University  of  California  •  Berkeley 

THE  PETER  AND  ROSELL  HARVEY 

MEMORIAL  FUND 


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RECOLLECTIONS 

OF 

Pioneer  and  Army  Life 


MATTHEW  H.  JAMISON, 

Lieutenant  E  Company,  Tenth  Regiment,  Illinois  Veteran 
Volunteer  Infantry; 

Assigned  Commander  of  F  Company  on  the   Hood  Chase  and  on 
the  March  to  the  Sea  ; 

Assigned  Commander  of  G  Company  on  the  Campaign  through 
the  Carolinas  under  General  Wm.  Tecum.soh  Shermau. 


Peace  is  the  dream  of  the  wise;  war  is^the  history  of  man.  |g Youth 
listens  without  attention  to  those  who  seek  to  lead  it  by  the  paths  of 
reason  to  happiness,  and  rushes  with  irresistible  violence  into  the  arms  of 
the  phantom  which  lures  it  by  the  light^of  glory  ^destruction. — Segur. 


TO  HARRY  F.  McALLISTER: 

THIS  IS  MY  CONTRIBUTION  TO  THE  "DERISIVE  SILENCE 
OF   THE   CENTURIES,"    AND    MY    TESTIMONIAL 

TO  YOUR  EVER  FAITHFUL  FRIENDSHIP 
THESE  FORTY-FIVE  YEARS. 


PREFATORY. 


Gone  are  they  all !  The  tints  of  youth ;  the  tumult  of 
battle;  the  old  and  worn  and  tattered  banners;  the  neighing 
horses;  the  broken  caissons;  the  prisoners  of  war;  the  Mis 
sissippi  flotilla ;  the  defiant  rebel  yell  on  the  midnight  departure 
from  Corinth ;  Bragg's  broken  columns  on  the  shifting  field  of 
Mission  Ridge ;  the  bloody  repulse  of  Kenesaw  and  Marietta ; 
the  discomfiture  of  Hood  before  Atlanta;  the  exultant  March 
to  the  Sea ;  the  advance  in  storm  and  flood  through  the  Caro- 
linas;  the  bloody  hour  before  Bentonville;  the  Surrender  of 
Johnson  at  Raleigh ;  and  the  pageant  on  Pennsylvania  Avenue 
following  the  funeral  car  of  President  Lincoln.  Gone  are  they 
all;  and  I  too  am  soon  gone!  In  the  fleeting  moment  the 
aging  veteran,  hat  in  hand,  waves  a  salute  to  the  oncoming 
youth,  bearing  full  high  advanced  the  colors  of  his  country  to 
undreamed-of  triumphs:  for  this  is  our  warfare;  no  battle; 
no  crown  of  Victory! 

M.  H.  J. 
October  i,  1911. 

Battle  Mountain  Sanitarium, 
Hot  Springs,  South  Dakota. 


CONTENTS 


Page. 

CHAPTER  I. 
Our  Family  in  the  Early  History  of  the  Government ....         7 

CHAPTER  II. 
My  Earliest  Days  Continued 13 

CHAPTER  III. 
My  Mother • 18 

CHAPTER  IV. 
Rachel  T.  Nicol 23 

CHAPTER  V. 
The  South  Henderson  Church 30 

CHAPTER  VI. 
Off  for  Oregon.     Frontier  Life  in  the  Early  Forties 36 

CHAPTER  VII. 

The  Illusions  of  Childhood 40 

CHAPTER  VIII. 
The  Family  Removes  to  the  Yellow  Banks 44 

CHAPTER  IX. 
My  Boyhood  at  the  Yellow  Banks 50 

CHAPTER  X. 
Temptations  of  the  Great  River 56 

CHAPTER  XI. 
The  Yellow  Banks 61 

CHAPTER  XII. 

"Gold !  Gold !  from  Sacramento  River" ! 66 

CHAPTER  XIII. 
The  Village  Bakery 70 

CHAPTER  XIV. 
The  Presbyterian  Chapel  and  Its  Memories 75 

CHAPTER  XV. 
The  Ghost  and  the  Fink  &  Walker  Stage  Coach 80 

CHAPTER  XVI. 
The  School-teacher  Descended  from  the  Pilgrim  Fathers,       87 

CHAPTER  XVII. 
The  Menace  of  the  Great  River 92 


ii  Contents. 

Page 

CHAPTER  XVIII. 

A  Ride  with  One  of  the  Cloth 96 

CHAPTER  XIX. 
The    Bloomer  Costume,   the  Crinoline   Disturbance,  and 

Other  Matters ; 100 

CHAPTER  XX. 

The  Mysterious  Stranger 104 

CHAPTER  XXI. 

The  Ghost 112 

CHAPTER  XXII. 

Overland  to  Fountain  Green 115 

CHAPTER  XXIII. 

A  Glimpse  of  Horace  Greeley 119 

CHAPTER  XXIV. 

Lincoln  and  Douglas 124 

CHAPTER  XXV. 
My  School-days  at  Monmouth  and   the  Crozier- Fleming 

Tragedy 1 30 

CHAPTER  XXVI. 

"To  Pike's  Peak  or  Bust"  135 

CHAPTER  XXVII. 

Homeward  Bound 145 

CHAPTER  XXVIII. 

A  Volunteer  at  the  Fall  of  Ft.  Sumter 149 

CHAPTER  XXIX. 

To  Washington  and  Through  New  Englaii  1 156 

CHAPTER  XXX. 

Re-enlisted  for  Three  Years 163 

CHAPTER  XXXI. 

Our  First  Encounter  with  a  Contraband 171 

CHAPTER  XXXII. 

The  Capture  of  Island  No.  10  and  New  Madrid 175 

CHAPTER  XXXIII. 

From  Shiloh  to  Corinth  under  Halleck 183 

CHAPTER  XXXIV. 
The  March  to  Tuscumbia  and  Nashville 188 

CHAPTER  XXXV. 
Isolated  at  Nashville 1 92 

CHAPTER  XXXVI. 
Bridgeport  to  Chattanooga 197 


Contents.  iii 

CHAPTER  XXXVI II. 

Good-bye,  Braxton  Bragg 201 

CHAPTER  XXXIX. 

Relief  of  Knoxville 205 

CHAPTER  XL. 

On  Veteran  Furlough 211 

CHAPTER  XLI. 

The  Knights  of  the  Golden  Circle 215 

CHAPTER  XLI  I. 

The  Confederate  Campaign  in  Henderson  County 219 

The  Atlanta  Campaign,  or  the  Hundred  Days  Battle.  .  .  .  220 

Battle  at  Rocky  Face 233-4 

Battle  of  Resaca 235 

Adjutant  Rice  Wounded 236 

Capture  of  Rome 237 

The  Fight  at  Dallas 239 

Preliminary  Fighting  at  Kenesaw  Mountain 245 

The  Charge  of  Our  Division  at  Marietta 247 

Fighting  at  the  Rifle-Pits  and  on  the  Picket-Line 250-1 

Peach-Tree  Creek.     Major  Wilson  and  Captain  Munson 

Wounded 254~5 

Battle  of  July  22nd.     Death  of  Gen.  McPherson 255 

Our  Division,  the  Victim  of  a  Shameful  Miscarriage  on 

July  28th 257 

Our  Regiment  Exchanges  the  "Acorn"  for  the  "Arrow,"  264 

Resignation  of  Commissioned  Officers 267 

Assigned  to  the  Command  of  Company  F 268 

The  Hood  Chase 268-9 

Death  of  Gen.»  Ransom 2  74 

The  March  to  the  Sea 278 

Tear  Up,  Burn  and  Twist 284 

Prisoners  from  Fort  McCallister 288 

On  the  Gulf  Railroad 289 

The  City  of  Savannah 290 

On  Ocean  Transports  to  Beaufort,  S.  C 293 

Campaign  Through  the  Carolinas 296 

Fighting  at  the  Crossing  of  the  Salkahatchie 300 

Assigned  to  the  Command  of  Company  G.     Capt.  Wilson 

of  "G"  Wounded 302 

Midnight  Crossing  of  the  Edisto 304 

Passing  Through  Orangeburg 306 

On  the  Saluda,  Opposite  Columbia 308 

The  Burning  of  the  Capitol  of  South  Carolina 309 


iv  Contents. 

Page. 

At  Winsboro 311 

Capture  of  Cheraw 314 

Arrival  of  the  Army  at  Fayetteville,  N.  C 318 

Our  Division  at  Bentonville . 321 

Our  Arrival  at  Goldsboro 323 

Grant  Has  Taken  Richmond 325 

Dispatch  that  Lee  Has  Surrendered 326 

Arrival  of  Sherman's  Army  at  Raleigh 326-7 

Assassination  of  President  Lincoln 327 

I7th  A.  C.  Reviewed  by  Gen.  Grant,  Sherman  and  Other 

Distinguished  Officers 328 

Interview  with  Mrs.  Stewart 329 

Homeward  Bound  via  Richmond  and  Washington 330 

In  Old  Virginia,  Petersburg 332 

"On  to  Richmond,"  Libby  Prison  and  Belle  Isle 333 

Richmond  to  Washington.     Scene  of  Sheridan's  Cavalry 

Engagements 334 

Ride  Over  Spottsylvania  Battle-Ground 335 

Ride  with  Surgeon  Ritchey  and  Acting  Q.  M.  Hughes  to 

Mt.  Vernon 337 

President  Johnson  at  the  Entrance  to  the  White  House  . .  .  338 
Letter   from  Mary  F.  Hamilton  of    the    Treasury    De 
partment  339 

By  Rail  to  Parkersburg — Down  the  Ohio  River  to  Louis 
ville  340 

On  Fu  lough.     Ride  with  Gen  Morgan  on  Front  Platform 

of  Cars  from  4  p.  M.  until  Midnight 342 

Home ! 343 

APPENDIX. 

I7th  A.  C.  Badge 344 

Congratulatory   Dispatch   from  Governor   Low,  of  Cali 
fornia  345 

The  Pot -Trammels  of  1690 346 

Patriotism  of  Illinois — Joe  Hooker  and  John  Pope 347 

Heroes  Given  to  Strong  Drink 348 

The  Rebel  Paper's  Libel 349 

Capt.  David  R.  Water's  Explanation  of  the  Movement 

of  Our  Division  on  July  28th,  1864 352 

The  National  Tribune's  Tabular  Statement  of  the  Union 

Soldiers'  Services 354 

Henry  Watterson's  Tribute  to  Lincoln 356 

By  MATT!?EW  H^jlkisoN, 

Kansas  City,  Mo. 


CHAPTER  I. 


OUR  FAMILY  IN  THE  EARLY  HISTORY  of  THE 
GOVERNMENT. 

To  bear  willing  testimony  to  the  virtues  of  my  honored 
parents,  whose  memory  I  hold  in  unfeigned  love  and  rever 
ence,  is  my  first  duty  as  well  as  my  chiefest  pleasure  in  the 
preparation  of  these  pages.  My  father,  William  Rollin  Jami 
son,  was  born  in  Grayson  County,  Kentucky,  in  1808,  the 
year  in  which  the  Congressional  Act  was  passed  prohibiting 
the  slave  trade,  and  in  which  Aaron  Burr,  after  his  trial  at 
Richmond,  left  his  country  for  Europe,  an  outcast,  to  wander 
a  discredited  man.  My  father's  long  and  useful  life  compassed 
three-quarters  of  a  century.  My  immediate  forebears  and 
myself  were  born  on  our  American  frontier.  Some  branches 
of  our  family  were  represented  in  the  army  under  Washing 
ton,  one  of  them  a  quartermaster,  and  others  were  usefully 
employed  in  different  branches  of  the  military  service.  One 
of  these,  a  young  man  of  eighteen  years,  left  his  widowed 
mother  in  the  north  of  Ireland  and  escaped  to  this  country  as 
a  stowaway,  and  under  an  old  law  or  custom  of  the  time,  dis 
charged  his  obligation  to  the  master  of  the  vessel  by  enlisting 
in  the  patriot  army.  A  grand-uncle  was  a  merchant  high  in 
repute  and  of  considerable  wealth  in  the  city  of  Baltimore  dur 
ing  the  first  third  of  the  nineteenth  century,  and  his  descend 
ants  are  now  citizens  of  Maryland.  My  great-grandfather. 
John  Jamison,  from  across  the  water  in  the  north  of  Ireland, 
settled  in  Lancaster  County,  Pennsylvania,  the  richest  agricult 
ural  part  of  the  State,  in  the  first  quarter  of  the  eighteenth 
century.  He  it  was  who  named  the  township  "Little  Britain" ; 

7 


8  Recollections  of  Pioneer  and  Army  Life. 

and  my  grandfather,  Samuel  Jamison,  moved  from  thence  to 
Kentucky  at  the  beginning  of  the  century,  where  my  father  was 
born  as  aforesaid.  The  axe,  the  plow  and  the  rifle  were  the  im 
plements  used  by  the  three  generations  of  my  ancestors  to  sub 
due  the  wilderness.  They  chose  the  route  into  the  Mississippi 
Valley  taken  by  the  Lincolns — namely,  from  Pennsylvania  and 
Virginia  into  Kentucky,  thence  across  the  Ohio  River  into 
Southern  Indiana,  and  from  thence  directly  to  the  Father  of 
Waters.  These  migraticns  consumed  the  first  quarter  of  the 
century.  Clearings  were  made  and  homes  established  in  the 
wilds  of  Kentucky,  Indiana  and  Illinois.  In  Perry  County, 
Indiana,  my  grandfather  built  a  comfortable  frame  dwelling, 
the  frame  of  oak,  direct  from  the  trees,  the  siding,  sash  and 
doors  of  walnut.  Here  my  father  was  advancing  in  his  teens 
and  was  the  main  dependence  of  the  family  in  the  care  of  such 
machinery  as  the}  had,  such  as  horse-power  for  grinding  corn, 
the  fanning-mill  for  cleaning  wheat,  and  possibly  the  crude 
cylinder  threshing  machine,  although  the  ox  and  the  horse 
were  still  in  use  in  my  childhood  for  treading  out  the  grain. 
My  father  was  twice  married.  His  first  wife,  Martha 
Finley,  who  died  of  cholera  in  1832,  was  the  daughter  of  a 
soldier  of  the  Revolution,  who  fought  under  Washington  at 
Monmouth  and  on  the  Brandywine.  He  had  just  attained  his 
majority  on  the  arrival  of  the  family  in  Henderson  (then 
Warren)  County,  in  1829.  He  was  a  man  of  strong  will,  per 
sistent  energy  of  purpose,  and  in  his  old  age,  leaning  on  his 
staff,  might  well  have  said,  "These  hands  have  ministered  to 
my  necessities."  His  hands  were  large  and  well-shaped,  with 
the  broad  curved  thumb,  the  sure,  sign  of  a  man  well  endowed. 
He  taught  school  on  his  arrival  in  Henderson  County;  could 
survey  his  own  lands ;  was  skillful  in  the  budding  and  grafting 
of  fruit  trees,  and  practiced  the  art  more  or  less  all  his  life — 
extending  this  work  to  his  wild  orange  groves  in  Florida.  All 
his  farm  work  was  done  with  the  crude  implements  and  tools 
used  in  the  period  following  the  Colonial  era.  At  the  time  of 


Recollections  of  Pioneer  and  Army  Life.  9 

my  birth,  some  (a  few)  of  the  better  helps  were  coming  into 
use,  such  as  the  cast-iron  plow,  the  then  (not  always)  reliable 
steel  plow,  i  recall  my  father  in  my  earliest  years,  dragging 
in  his  small  grain  with  a  well-distributed  tree-top,  and  he  did 
a  good  job.  The  small  grain  was  cut  with  a  cradle,  and  his 
sickle,  with  its  serrated  edge  (an  implement  of  a  former  gen 
eration,  with  which  "the  mower  no  longer  filleth  his  hand, 
nor  he  that  bindeth  sheaves  his  bosom''),  was  an  object  of  in 
terest  to  me,  and  coveted,  but  denied  to  me  as  a  plaything. 
The  trace-chain,  the  Hat  wooden  hames  tied  with  a  leather 
thong,  the  harness  made  of  broad,  flat  strips  of  leather  cut 
directly  from  the  hide,  the  wide-track  linch-pin  wagon  with 
its  small  fore  wheels  and  extra  large  hind  ones,  the  tar-bucket 
swinging  under  the  hind  axle,  was  the  fashion  on  the  public 
highways.  A  wagon  of  this  description,  usually  drawn  by  oxen 
and  scantily  daubed  with  tar  on  the  thimbles,  warned  the  coun 
try  rotmd  of  its  approach  long  before  coming  into  view  by  its 
agonizing  shriek '  The  late  John  Bruen,  one  of  the  wealthy 
live-stock  men  of  the  county,  began  life  with  such  a  wagon.  I 
remember  him  well,  swinging  his  ox-goad  over  his  shoulder,  a 
nut-brown,  good-natured  fellow,  hesitating  in  his  speech.  The 
late  David  Rankin,  another  man  of  the  same  class,  a  reputed 
millionaire,  started  on  a  successful  career  with  such  an  outfit. 

My  lather  had  the  mechanic's  eye,  and  knew  at  a  glance 
whether  a  line  was  straight  or  not.  He  had  the  charge,  when 
under  age,  of  the  machinery  or  tools  requiring  special  care, 
for  my  grandfather  had  little  aptitude  for  such  work.  When 
doing  work  which  required  some  skill,  his  usual  comment  upon 
his  awkward  sons  or  others  assisting  in  the  labor  was,  "He 
hasn't  half  an  eye!"  He  "found"  himself,  and  "came  to"  him 
self,  in  his  own  way.  He  had  considerable  education:  but 
gathered  it  as  every  pioneer  did,  by  hook  and  by  crook,  no 
one  can  tell  just  how,  for  he  was  a  man  of  few  words  and  only 
briefly  and  casually  reminiscent. 

For  a  rail-splitter,  inured  to  the  toil  of  building  homes  in 


10  Recollections  of  Pioneer  and  Army  Life. 

the  wilderness,  he  wrote  a  good  hand,  and  spelled  correctly, 
an  accomplishment  marked  by  the  breach  rather  than  the  ob 
servance  by  alleged  educated  people.  He  never  talked  about 
it;  but  I  think  he  must  at  one  time  have  had  an  ambition  be 
yond  the  commonplace.,  for  he  always  had  useful  books  in  his 
possession,  and  one  in  particular  (an  Ains worth's  Latin  diction 
ary)  which  he  seems  to  have  put  to  considerable  use.  During 
the  winter  evenings,  when  he  was  not  otherwise  engaged,  he 
busied  himself  making  split-bottom  chairs  for  his  children  and 
larger  ones  for  the  family.  He  was  skillful  at  any  kind  of  re 
pair  work  and  owned  a  kit  of  shoemaker's  tools,  with  which  he 
kept  the  footwear  of  the  family  in  good  shape.  These  home 
ly  labors  are  best  appreciated  when  those  of  us  who  are  old 
enough  can  recall  families  where  the  stupidity  was  so  dense, 
or  indolence  so  extreme,  that  even  in  severe  weather  little  ef 
fort  was  made  in  pioneer  homes  to  provide  these  comforts. 

He  was  diligent  in  his  business,  intent  on  his  purpose, 
concentrated,  and  cheerful,  whistling  in  a  peculiar  minor  key 
as  he  went  about  his  farm  work.  I  recall  him,  as  he  appeared 
to  me  in  my  earliest  years,  wearing  a  broad-brimmed  home 
made  straw  hat  and  linsey-woolsey  waistcoat.  Usually  the 
farmer  of  those  days  wore  a  red  waumus  of  home-woven  ma 
terial,  the  same  as  the  mother  and  daughters  wore,  except  that 
the  linsey-woolsey  for  the  latter  came  from  the  loom  in  stiipes. 
The  elder  Hanna  presided  at  an  old-fashioned  Independence 
Day  celebration  at  Centre  Grove  as  late  as  1853  m  every-day 
attire — namely,  in  an  old  waumus,  with  the  corners  drawn  to 
the  front  and  tied  in  a  knot. 

In  pioneer  days  my  father  was  a  sort  of  referee  in  local 
legal  matters;  that  is  to  say,  his  neighbors  made  him  "Squire" 
by  regular  commission,  and  by  this  official  title  he  was  always 
addressed  by  his  friends.  And  too,  he  was  available  when  his 
neighbors  were  ailing,  for,  while  he  made  no  pretensions  to 
the  healing  art,  his  judgment  was  relied  upon  with  great  con 
fidence  by  his  neighbors.  Blood-letting  was  still  in  vogue  for 


Recollections  of  Pioneer  and  Army  Life.  n 

many  diseases,  and  as  a  child  1  used  to  look  upon  his  keen 
lance,  with  its  tortoise-shell  handle,  with  a  kind  of  horror,  and 
I  never  failed  to  lapse  into  a  condition  akin  to  nervous  pros 
tration  whenever  he  bled  my  mother  for  sick  headache.  In 
this  connection  poor  Josh  Darnell  comes  into  view.  He  was 
an  epileptic,  seven  or  eight  years  of  age  possibly.  His  parents, 
not  knowing  what  better  to  do,  brought  him  to  father  to  be 
bled,  which  was  done. 

One  day  at  school  I  came  very  near  being  the  victim  of 
one  of  Josh's  spells.  Mary  Ann  Bigelow,  an  estimable  young 
woman,  was  the  teacher  at  the  old  Davenport  school-house, 
and  I  and  my  younger  brother,  Ewell,  were  sent  to  her  to  ex 
plore  the  mysteries  of  the  alphabet.  We  were  among  the  small 
est  urchins  and  sat  with  our  bare  legs  hanging  over  the  first 
low  bench  at  the  front.  Behind  us  rose  a  higher  bench  and  a 
writing  desk  or  board  running  along  the  wall.  Here  the  larger 
scholars  sat.  Josh  was  seated  right  behind  me,  and  without 
warning  the  poor  lad  was  suddenly  taken  with  a  "fit."  His 
face  flushed  purple  and  he  was  caught  by  the  teacher  in  the 
act  of  striking  me  a  terrific  blow  from  behind  The  teacher 
was  as  much  afraid  of  him  as  the  scholars  were  and  the  school 
was  in  a  fright;  but,  after  a  struggle,  the  boy  lapsed  into  a 
stupor,  and  in  an  hour  or  so  was  about  as  well  as  usual. 

The  only  event  that  arose  to  disturb  the  even  tenor  of 
Miss  Bigelow's  school  was  her  method  of  getting  even  with 
the  refractory  boys.  A  feature  of  her  academy  was  an  im 
provised  gallows,  from  which  was  suspended  a  piece  of  woolen 
yarn.  The  criminal  was  brought  out  upon  the,  floor  and  placed 
on  the  trap.  The  rope  was  adjusted  so  that  the  transgressor 
stood  on  his  toes,  and  if  he  acted  as  his  own  executioner,  and 
sprung  the  trap — that  is  to  say,  settled  down  on  his  heels  and 
broke  the  rope,  he  either  got  a  "licken"  or  had  to  be  hung  over 
again.  In  the  pursuit  of  learning  the  two  children  were  sent 
to  Aunt  Tabitha  Stice,  who  opened  a  competing  university  in 
a  log  cabin  which  stood  on  the  site  of  my  brother.  Francis 


12  Recollections  of  Pioneer  and  Army   Life. 

Marion's  home.  At  this  time,  throughout  all  the  region  round 
about,  there  was  a  great  scare  over  the  mad  dog  that  bit  Brad 
bury.  The  good  mothers  were  particularly  concerned  at  the 
risk  taken  in  sending  the  children  a  mile  or  two  to  school  while 
this  dog  was  still  at  large.  As  a  precaution  Aunt  Tabitha  took 
the  door  of  the  cabin,  which  was  off  its  hinges,  if  it  ever  had 
any,  and  laid  it  down  on  its  edge  across  the  doorway,  which 
would  let  in  the  light  and  keep  out  the  dog,  as  she  supposed. 
The  dog  never  came  our  way,  however,  and  for  a  break  in  the 
monotony  we  had  to  fall  back  on  our  own  resources.  As  for 
myself,  I  found  a  good  subject  in  Will  Graham,  who  had  not 
as  yet  learned  the  art  of  blowing  his  nose.  Being  his  next 
neighbor,  I  introduced  some  bits  of  vaudeville  which  proved 
a  side-splitting  success.  At  every  joke  sent  as  a  surprise  from 
behind  my  spelling-book  there  was  a  cataclysm — Will  snick 
ered — and  the  sheep-legs  hung  suspended  at  great  length.  Up 
to  this  time  handkerchiefs  had  not  been  discovered,  and  the 
helpless  boy  could  do  nothing  less  than  wind  up  his  suspen 
sories,  until  he  must  have  had  a  coil  in  his  head  as  big  a^  :>. 
pound  pippin. 


CHAPTER  II. 


My  EARLIEST  DAYS  CONTINUED. 

During  my  father's  laudable  effort  to  help  poor  Josh  Dar 
nell,  I  find  that  I  have  escaped  into  this  world  unbeknownst, 
as  it  were,  and  got  as  far  as  Aunt  Tabitha's  school  before  be 
ing  discovered,  and  if  my  patient  reader  please,  we  will  trace 
the  fugitive  back  to  his  entrance.  I  was  born  on  the  loth  day 
of  September,  1840,  on  the  ancient  hunting-ground  of  the 
Sacs  and  Foxes — two  of  the  many  collateral  tribes  of  the  great 
Algonquin  race;  within  a  few  yards  of  an  old  stockade, 
pierced  for  musketry,  erected  at  the  opening  of  the  Black 
Hawk  War  on  my  father's  homestead,  situated  in  the  angle 
formed  by  the  branches  of  the  Henderson  River,  close  to  its 
junction  with  the  Mississippi,  and  within  five  miles  of  the  Yel 
low  Banks,  where  I  grew,  to  manhood.  My  half-brothers,  John 
C.  (October  15,  1830)  and  Francis  Marion  (October  i,  1832), 
were  born  in  that  stockade,  while  the  children  of  the  second 
marriage,  myself  included,  were  born  in  a  log  cabin  on  the 
same  ground.  There  was  no  booming  of  cannon  on  my  ad 
vent  into  this  world;  but  the  Whigs  throughout  the  country 
were  on  their  sailor's  legs  through  the  inoidinate  consumption 
of  hard  cider.  Does  my  reader  remember  the  campaign  song 
of  1840? 

"Farewell,  old  Van ; 
You  're  a  used-up  man. 
To  guard  our  ship 
We  '11  try  old  Tip. 
With  Tip  and  Tyler 
We  '11  burst  Van's  biler !" 


14  Recollections  of  Pioneer  and  Army  Life. 

In  the  "Military  Tract"  the  supporters  of  "Tippecanoe  and 
Tyler  too"  were  short  on  the  prescribed  refreshment  of  the 
campaign.  They  were  strong  on  coonskins  and  log  cabins,  but 
were  in  a  strait  for  hard  cider,  and  I  suspect  that  my  elders 
were  compelled  to  work  up  enthusiasm  foi  the  ticket  on  the 
standard  stimulant. 

My  father  explored  Fulton  and  Henderson  Counties  in 
1829,  and  in  1830  my  grandfather,  Samuel  Jamison,  and  my 
uncles  James,  John  Calvin,  Harvey  and  Nathan,  my  aunt 
Elizabeth,  a  grand-uncle,  John  Jamison,  and  a  grand  aunt, 
Sally  Jamison,  all  settled  in  the  immediate  neighborhood  known 
-for  three-quarters  of  a  century  as  the  "Jamison  Settlement"; 
all  of  them  within  four  and  five  miles  of  the  Yellow  Banks. 
I  recall  all  the  original  cabins  built  by  the  heads  of  the  differ 
ent  branches  of  the  family — the  cabin  in  the  woods  where  my 
grandfather  died;  for  some  reason  he  was  not  at  home,  in  his 
own  good  frame  dwelling  close  by.  I  was  a  small  child  at  play 
around  the  cabin  when  he  breathed  his  last  He  died  before 
his  time,  at  the  age  of  sixty-eight,  having  torn  his  thumb  on 
a  splinter  as  he  climbed  over  the  rail  fence.  The  wound  re 
sulted  in  time  in  blood-poisoning.  He  used  to  ride  over  to  my 
father's  on  his  old  saddle-horse,  "J&wl,"  and  show  my  mother 
his  wounded  thumb,  and  when  he  held  it  out,  by  rising  on  my 
toes  I  could  get  a  glimpse  of  it.  Uncle  James'  rude  cabin 
stood  for  some  years  close  to  the  frame  dwelling,  which  was 
not  completed  at  his  death.  I  stood  in  recent  years  at  the  door 
of  the  log  cabin  and  looked  in  at  the  same  four-square  room 
where  my  Uncle  Calvin  and  Aunt  Sarah  began  housekeeping. 
Everything  comes  back  to  me  now :  the  giant  oak  and  hickory 
trees  that  cast  their  shadow  over  the  cabin,  the  long  winter 
evenings,  the  shell-bark  hickory  nuts  and  the  hearthstone  where 
they  were  cracked  in  the  light  of  the  blaze  while  the  apples 
sputtered  in  a  row  and  the  corn  pone  slowly  ripened  in  the  lit 
tle  oven.  The  current  literature  was  Horace  Greeley's  Tribune. 
The  Jamisons  all  set  out.  a  fruit  tree  first  and  built  their  cabins 


Recollections  of  Pioneer  and  Army  Life.  15 

afterwards.  Uncle  Calvin  was  a  clean,  wholesome  man;  a  good 
neighbor,  without  pretensions  of  any  kind ;  blessed  with  com 
mon  sense  in  a  large  measure,  a  sound  judgment,  and  a  proper 
pride  in  his  own  personality.  He  suffered  much  sickness  in 
his  family  in  the  early  days  of  his  married  life,  which  kept 
him  back;  but  in  later  years  he  came  grandly  forward,  and 
died  with  a  good  estate,  rejoicing  in  having  seen  his  great 
grandchild  ! 

The  first  built  of  the  frame  homes  (those  of  my  grand 
father  and  Uncle  James,  the  first  about  seventy  years  old  and 
the  latter  sixty  or  more)  are  in  a  good  state  of  preservation, 
promising  to  last  to  shelter  still  other  generations.  My  grand 
father's  homestead,  as  cared  for  by  Uncle  Harvey  in  the  old 
days,  was  especially  beautiful,  with  its  large  mulberry  tree  on 
the  lawn,  the  picketed  garden-plot  on  the  north,  the  wide7 
spreading  pasture  land,  in  which  stood  the  spacious  barn,  and 
the  orchard  and  noble  grove  of  primeval  forest  for  a  back 
ground.  Now,  however,  with  the  passing  years  the  savage 
greed  of  the  alien  has  made  havoc  in  the  forest,  run  the  plow 
share  almost  into  the  doorway,  and  threatens  to  make  a  manure- 
heap  of  the  private  burial-ground.  I  have  always  been  af 
fected  in  a  peculiar  way  by  this  venerated  spot.  Across  the 
vista  of  my  earliest  recollection  passes  a  group  of  mourners 
bearing  the  remains  of  my  grandmother  from  the  ancestral 
home  (a  short  way)  to  the  private  burial-plot.  My  mother 
led  me  by  the  hand,  and  I  was  awed  and  did  not  understand; 
but  the  cloth-covered  casket  borne  solemnly  along  made  an 
impression  that  time  alone  can  not  efface.  My  Uncle  Nathan 
at  his  death  was  an  octogenarian,  and  the  last  survivor  of  the 
ancient  race  whose  members  settled  in  Henderson  County  early 
in  the  first  third  of  the  nineteenth  century.  His  relict.  Aunt 
Sophronia,  is  living  at  an  advanced  age,  richly  blessed  in  her 
children. 

It  is  the  happy  lot  of  the  child  born  on  the  frontier  to  be 
oblivious  to  the  sturdy  blows  of  the  axe  at  the  root  of  the  tree 


1 6  Recollections  of  Pioneer  and  Army  Life. 

— the  patient  accumulation  of  years  by  which  the  young  mar 
ried  couple  surround  themselves  with  the  comforts  of  home; 
the  comfortable  cabin  itself;  the  necessary  outbuildings;  the 
conveniences  of  interior  lanes  and  gates  and  bars;  the  well 
safely  curbed  against  the  feet  of  tottering  childhood,  the  old 
oaken  bucket ;  the  lowing  herds  and  flocks ;  my  mother's  old- 
style  poppies  and  pinks  in  the  garden;  father's  amber  grapes 
and  damson  plums,  and  his  stalwart  orchard,  the  first  and  the 
best  in  the  State  (so  the  State  Historical  Society  says),  with 
its  stout  apple  trees  heavy  laden;  the  cherry  trees,  in  whose 
tops  the  birds  were  wont  to  compete  with  the  boys  for  the  ripe 
clusters ;  the  pears,  the  peaches — in  perfection  all,  untenanted 
by  worm  and  unstung  by  fly!  All  this  seems  commonplace: 
but  when  I  recall  the  aged  couple  whose  ashes  rest  in  Florida — 
"in  their  sepulchre  there  by  the  sea" — who  supplied  my  earli 
est  youth  with  such  lavish  abundance,  the  tears  come  welling 
up.  Nor  is  this  picture  shown  in  its  best  light  save  by  contrast. 
When  I  was  a  lad,  I  could  look  across  our  great  prairies  and 
not  see  in  those  wide  open  spaces  a  single  farm-house,  and 
fruit  in  the  thinly  settled  country  was  almost  unknown.  My 
father  brought  his  fruit  scions  (poor  dried-up  little  roots, 
which  could  not  possibly  live,  he  thought)  in  a  wagon  from 
Kentucky !  I  believe  that  my  father  was  the  best  farmer  and 
the  best  all-around  man  in  his  neighborhood.  He  had  a  roomy 
two-story  log  barn  and  comfortable  cattle  sheds  when  the  most 
of  his  neighbors  had  little  or  no  sheltei  for  their  stock,  or 
turned  it  out  in  the  arctic  cold.  He  always  had  a  small  drove 
of  young  cattle  coming  on,  and  as  children  we  took  great  de 
light  in  attending  upon  the  sheep-shearing  at  the  sheep-house 
down  in  the  pasture.  The  threshing  scenes  at  the  barn  were  a 
great  wonder,  where  the  oxen  or  the  horses  went  round  and 
round  treading  out  the  grain,  and  where  the  fanning-mill  stood 
for  cleaning  it.  The  wheat  bins  were  sections  of  great  hollow 
sycamore  or  cottonwood  trees  which  had  been  further  perfect 
ed  for  use  by  burning  out.  He  raised  more  timothy  and  clover 


Recollections  of  Pioneer  and  Army  Life.  17 

hay  than  anyone  that  1  can  remember,  which  seems  odd  enough 
in  a  new  country  where  the  great  prairies  were  still  unoccupied 
and  wild  hay  could  be  had  for  the  cutting.  He  raised  flax  also 
in  small  quantities  to  supply  my  mother's  little  spinning-wheel, 
on  which  she  made  hei  thread.  The  old  hackle  for  cleaning 
the  flax  lay  around  the  house  for  years  after  it  had  fallen  into 
"innocuous  desuetude." 


CHAPTER  III. 


MY  MOTHER. 

My  mother,  Margaret  Mcllvain  Giles,  was  born  in  Abbey- 
ville  Parish,  South  Carolina,  the  birthplace  and  home  of  John 
C.  Calhoun.  One  of  her  earliest  recollections,  at  three  years 
of  age,  was  of  being  carried  on  the  shoulder  of  her  uncle, 
Andy  Giles,  in  subsequent  years  a  wealthy  slaveholder,  in  full 
dress,  including  his  cavalry  boots,  from  the  tops  of  which  hung 
pendent  a  tassel  after  the  style  of  the  Revolutionary  period. 
Her  people  were  Scotch-Irish  Presbyterians,  who  emigrated 
during  the  first  quarter  of  the  nineteenth  century  with  a  con 
siderable  body  of  these  sectaries  into  Preble  County,  Ohio, 
where  they  had  an  established  church  under  the  ministry  of 
Doctor  Porter,  the  father  of  the  well-known  first  pastor  of  the 
Cedar  Creek  church  in  Warren  County,  Illinois.  One  of  the 
brighest  pictures  of  my  childhood  is  the  Sabbath  scene  at  this 
country  church  on  the  occasion  of  one  of  our  semi-annual  visits 
to  our  numerous  relatives  in  the  vicinity :  the  warm  sunlight  of 
a  perfect  summer  day ;  the  noble  forest ;  the  interest  of  innum 
erable  strange  faces ;  the  neighing  of  horses  as  of  an  army  with 
banners;  the  groups  of  worshipers  in  the  light  and  shade  of 
the  trees,  held  together  by  the  living  meshes  of  demure  yet 
happy  children ;  and  the  coming  and  going  through  the  throng, 
with  nimble  tread,  of  a  pet  deer  or  two,  with  a  tinkling  bell 
under  its  throat.  The  pastor,  a  typical  preacher  of  pioneer 
days,  was  marked  by  the  romanticism  of  the  mighty  hunter. 
Woodcraft  and  the  hunting  of  large  game  was  second  nature 
to  him.  He  had,  too,  the  wit,  tact,  and  flavor  peculiar  to 
his  class.  Of  no  mean  education,  he  lived  a  rude  life,  spend- 


Recollections  of  Pioneer  and  Army  Life.  19 

ing  more  time  in  the  woods  with  his  rifle  than  in  the  prepara 
tion  of  his  sermons,  which  lacked  nothing  essential,  however, 
to  the  homilies  of  the  John  Knox  cult. 

My  mother  was  the  idol  of  her  household  of  boys — indulg 
ent,  gentle,  affectionate.  One  of  my  earliest  recollections  is 
of  standing  at  her  knee  Sunday  afternoons  repeating  after  her 
the  Child's  Catechism:  "Who  made  you?  God.  Who  re 
deemed  you?  Christ.  Who  sanctified  you?  The  Holy  Ghost. 
Of  what  were  you  made?  Of  the  dust  of  the  earth,"  etc. 
These  great  mysteries  were  doubly  mysterious  to  me,  and  I 
could  get  no  hold  on  them  until  my  mother  declared,  with  the 
Catechism  to  back  her,  that  I  was  made  of  the  dust  of  the 
earth !  I  recall  perfectly  how  I  pricked  up  my  ears  at  the 
thought  of  being  made  out  of  the  dust  of  the  earth.  I  looked 
up  into  her  face  more  questioningly  than  before ;  but  it  was 
serenely  grave  as  usual ;  and  withal  I  know  all  about  the  dust, 
for  my  younger  brother,  Ewell,  and  I  did  nothing  else  the  long 
summer  day  than  run  up  and  down  the  lane,  stopping  at  inter 
vals  to  make  of  the  dust  foothouses,  of  which  we  had  whole 
villages !  My  mind  rested  on  the  announcement  that  I  was 
made  of  dust,  and  whatever  else  in  the  Catechism  I  may  have 
forgotten,  this  great  revelation  remains  as  fresh  in  my  memory 
as  ever.  When  my  father  was  absent  from  home,  she  took 
the  book  and  led  in  worship.  If  Aunt  Polly  McKinney  came 
over  from  Uncle  James',  close  by,  she  sat  in  the  kitchen  and 
visited  while  mother  walked  back  and  forth  whirling  her  spin 
ning-wheel.  I  think  she  must  have  experimented  with  almost 
everything  that  was  good  for  the  table,  for  among  my  earliest 
recollections  is  seeing  her  trimming  home-made  cheeses,  and 
pressing  out  the  juice  of  blackberries  for  wine,  and  I  am  sure 
her  delicately  browned  puddings  served  with  a  sauce  two- 
thirds  of  a  century  ago  were  as  nice  as  any  we  have  in  the 
wonderful  Now !  She  was  among  the  first  to  make  fruit  jel 
lies  when  they  were  first  introduced,  and  she  made  them  beau 
tifully.  Her  success  was  the  despair  of  Mrs.  Robert  Ross, 


20  Recollections  of  Pioneer  and  Army  Life. 

her  pastor's  wife,  of  a  later  time,  whom  she  was  fond  of  hav 
ing  at  her  table  for  tea  or  an  elaborate  dinner.  They  were  a 
newly  married  couple,  and  the  wife,  being  ambitious  to  learn, 
got  her  first  points,  after  some  failures  in  jellies,  from  my 
mother.  The  cabin  where  I  was  born,  afterward  weather- 
boarded  over,  had  a  fireplace,  where  the  cooking  was  done  in 
the  beginning  of  her  married  life ;  but  she  was  among  the  first, 
if  not  the  very  first,  in  our  neighborhood  to  have  a  cooking- 
stove,  which  was  like  the  two  steps  of  a  stairway,  the  firebox 
the  first  step  and  the  rising  step  the  oven  back  of  it.  It  was  a 
simple  affair,  but  effective  as  far  as  it  went,  for  it  was  only 
an  adjunct  to  the  fireplace.  The  big  corn  pone,  seasoned  with 
small  bits  of  fat  pork  scattered  through  it,  continued  to  be 
baked  on  the  hearth,  in  the  Dutch  oven,  with  coals  and  hot 
ashes  on  top  and  underneath.  That  old  birthplace  is  still  in 
use— by  the  alien.  The  ancient  hearth  is  still  there,  in  the 
room  where  I  slept  in  my  trundle-bed,  where  the  fire  blazed 
over  the  back-log,  and  scorched  my  face,  while  I  tried  to 
whittle  with  the  first  dog-knife  on  the  Christmas  day  it  was 
presented  to  me.  The  walnut  doors,  plain  as  a  pikestaff,  and 
the  little  old-style  latches,  which  look  like  they  had  been  beaten 
out  on  the  smithy's  anvil,  are  there,  and  it  is  a  long  time  now 
since  I  had  to  stand  tip-toe  and  make  a  struggle  to  raise  the 
latch  to  compel  the  "open  door"  which  John  Hay,  poor  fel 
low  !  clamored  for  in  the  Orient  so  loudly. 

She  had  small,  beautifully  shaped  hands — the  thumbs 
cunning  little  half-circles,  full  of  character ;  and  when  they 
rested  in  persuasive  admonition  on  my  head,  I  felt  the  strength 
of  that  maternal  love  which  is  the  most  potent  guiding  force 
known  to  our  race.  .When  she  was  left  alone,  without  com 
pany  except  her  small  children,  and  any  unusual  noise  occurred 
at  night  outside,  she  would  get  up  from  her  bed  and  go  out 
around  the  house  to  find  the  cause.  This  is  a  pioneer  home, 
where  help  was  not  at  hand,  during  the  years  when  the  Mor 
mons  occupied  Nativoo.  My  father's  horses  were  stolen  by 


Recollections  of  Pioneer  and  Army  Life.  21 

Mormon  thieves  at  this  time.  He  recovered  two  in  place  of 
them,  but  did  not  get  his  own.  One  day  an  insane  man  passed 
through  the  country.  He  came  down  the  lane  past  the  house, 
hurling  stones  and  cluhs  as  he  went.  My  father  was  away 
from  home  and  my  mother  stood  on  the  porch  with  her  small 
brood  around  her,  full  of  apprehension,  relieved  somewhat  as 
she  saw  our  neighbor,  Sam  Lynn,  and  others,  riding  hastily 
from  the  north,  watchful  of  the  man  until  he  had  passed  our 
place  and  no  harm  could  come  to  us.  This  kindness  on  the  part 
of  Lynn  was  always  referred  to  gratefully  by  her,  although 
he  was  a  man  who,  his  life  long,  kept  a  liquor- joint  on  hi.-* 
place  and  with  whom  our  family  could  not  fraternize. 

I  was  a  reckless  rover  about  four  years  of  age  when  my 
mother  ventured  one  Sunday  morning  to  leave  me  at  home 
while  she  and  my  father  went  to  church.  Some  older  children 
(my  cousins  probably,  or  my  half-brothers)  had  charge  of  me. 
Without  announcing  the  fact,  I  concluded  to  look  the  premises 
over,  and.  wandered  off  down  into  the  barn  lot,  where  I  found 
a  span  of  horses  lying  at  their  ease  only  a  few  feet  apart ;  one 
of  these  a  young  gelding  which  my  father  had  received  from 
the  Mormons  in  lieu  of  one  their  people  had  stolen  from  him. 
This  animal  was  wild  and  unbroken.  I  went  up  to  it,  and  in 
the  most  social  way  attempted  to  draw  it  Jnto  conversation. 
T  laid  my  hand  on  it,  or  tried  to.  It  did  not  wait  to  get  up. 
It  flashed,  and  gave  me  a  kick  that  laid  me  out  good  and  quiet 
in  another  part  of  the  barnyard.  I  can  barely  remember  that 
they  came  and  carried  me  into  the  house,  for  my  thigh  felt 
like  it  had  been  crushed,  and  I  could  not  walk.  When  my 
mother  came  home  and  opened  my  clothing  and  found  the 
print  of  the  horse's  hoof  on  the  soft  flesh,  my  elders  were 
brought  to  account,  and  there  were  a  number  of  points  in  the 
cross-exmination  which  have  not  been  cleared  up  to  this  day. 
Some  time  afterward  I  saw  a  young  fellow  trying  to  break  that 
horse ;  and  the  last  view  I  had  of  him  he  was  going  head  first 
over  the  horse's  ears  in  a  way  well  devised  to  break  his  neck. 


22  Recollections  of  Pioneer  and  Army  Life. 

1  tried  to  trudge  over  to  Uncle  Calvin's  one  day  and  had 
got  out  on  Sam  Lynn's  unbroken  "quarter" — a  piece  of  first- 
class  land  still  untouched  by  the  plow — when  I  was  discovered 
by  a  drove  of  cattle  grazing  some  distance  ahead  of  me.  I 
was  advancing  towards  them  with  the  utmost  confidence  in 
their  good  intentions  when  suddenly  the  leader  bowed  low  his 
wide-spreading  horns  and  began  waving  his  tail  aloft  and 
throwing  dirt  in  the  same  direction  with  his  alternating  fore 
feet.  I  stopped  a  moment  to  survey  the  enemy.  Then  the 
fellow  with  the  big  horns  and  another  fellow  with  short  horns 
and  wrinkled  countenance  (as  though  the  troubles  of  this  world 
were  proving  too  much  for  him)  lifted  their  heads  way  up — • 
very  much  higher  than  there  was  any  warrant  for,  I  thought ; 
then  they  would  trot  around  a  little  and  paw  the  dirt  some 
more,  and  by  this  time  the  whole  drove  was  honoring  the  small 
object  with  two  short  legs  standing  in  the  grass  gun-shot  away 
with  the  deepest  interest.  Then  the  leader  sent  me  another 
challenge,  and  the  whole  herd  moved  in  my  direction.  I  lost 
all  interest --in  my  visit  to  Uncle  Calvin's.  I  thought  he  could 
wait  a  week  or  so,  and  those  legs  of  mine,  such  as  I  had,  went 
through  the  grass  like  buggy  spokes  in  the  wake  of  a  two- 
minute  nag.  I  didn't  wait  to  climb  Uncle  James'  fence — I  just 
touched  it  lightly  and  passed  over  the  top  rail  like  a  partridge 
on  poised  wings,  and  landed — I  landed  in  the  rotten  cornstalks 
and  dirt  with  a  thump  that  disabled  everything  inside  of  me, 
while  the  cattle,  having  lost  sight  of  me,  rounded  the  corner 
and  went  down  the  lane  toward  the  old  church,  looking  for 
the  fugitive,  bellowing,  and  raising  so  much  dust  that  I 
thought  as  I  crouched  out  of  sight  in  the  weeds  that  I  should 
never  want  to  go  visiting  again. 


CHAPTER  IV. 


RACHEL  T.  NICOI,. 

Some  of  my  mother's  forebears  and  many  of  her  relatives 
rest  in  the  churchyard  adjoining  the  Cedar  Creek  church;  and 
if  my  reader  should  ever  visit  the  lonely  spot  (not  so  bright 
and  fair  as  in  the  days  long  gone,  for  the  meeting-house  has 
been  removed  to  conform  to  the  public  highway  on  the  section 
line),  on  the  center  pathway  he  will  find  the  grave  of  Rachel 
Nicol,  a  blood  relative,  the  daughter  of  my  aunt  Susan  Giles 
Nicol,  and  that  of  her  brother  David,  a  mere  youth,  shot  from 
ambush  by  guerrillas  while  scouting  with  his  company  under 
the  command  of  Captain  John  Gamble,  on  the  public  highway, 
near  Fort  Donelson,  Tennessee,  during  the  Civil  War.  This 
ambitious  young  woman  was  not  favored  by  Nature  in  all 
which  young  women  born  into  this  world  are  fairly  entitled 
to — comeliness  of  form  and  feature.  She  was  plain,  but  she 
had  redeeming  gifts ;  she  plodded,  but  the  tortoise  reached  the 
goal.  Her  classmates  were  comparatively  handsome — some 
of  them  distinctly  so.  Rachel's  was  a  reserved,  kindly,  well- 
poised  personality,  manifesting  a  certain  mental  solidity  and 
strength  of  character,  rather  than  brilliance,  and  a  uniformly 
neat  person.  She  was  fearless,  and  when  others  shrank  from 
the  scourge,  she  nursed  the  cholera  victims.  She  was  grad 
uated  by  Monmouth  College  with  high  averages.  When  her 
class  dissolved  on  Commencement  day,  some  to  idleness,  some 
to  fashion,  others  to  work  and  still  others  to  marriage,  she 
went  on  with  her  studies — completed  the  course  and  received 
the  degree  of  M.D.  from  a  medical  school  in  Philadelphia; 
then  entered  the  New  England  Hospital,  in  Boston,  where  she 


>4  Recollections  of  Pioneer  and  Army  Life. 

had  the  advantages  of  hospital  practice,  and  nothing  daunted, 
crossed  the  Atlantic  and  entered  the  University  of  Zurich. 
Switzerland,  to  further  advance  her  studies  in  medicine  and 
surgery.  Here  she  was  taken  ill,  it  is  believed,  with  pneumonia. 
In  that  hour  which  must  come  to  all,  the  nurse  bent  over  her 
and  asked  her  if  she  knew  that  she  could  not  get  well;  then 
for  the  first  time  the  face  of  the  brave  girl  showed  emotion ; 
the  chin  trembled,  and  the  tears  came !  In  due  course  her  re 
mains  went  by  rail  to  the  seaboard,  then  across  the  solemn 
main  homeward  bound,  and  by  rail  once  more,  a  long  journey, 
to  the  lonely  churchyard  on  the  hill,  on  Cedar  Creek. 

From  a  voluminous  correspondence  I  select  a  few  of  the 
letters  of  Miss  Nicol  to  her  life-long  friend,  Mrs.  Emma  Kil- 
gore,  the  accomplished  wife  of  the  late  Doctor  Kilgore,  of 
Monmouth,  which  will  aid  those  who  treasure  her  memory 
with  miser  care  to  trace  her  preparations  for  a  professional 
career. 


To  Mrs.  Kilyorc. 

"New  England  Hospital,  Boston,  Mass. 
"May  16,  1879. 

"DEAR  EMMA. — As  you  ^ec,  1  am  '.swinging  around  the 
circle,'  and  now  find  myself  at  the  'Hub,'  where  1  expect  to 
tarry  for  a  year.  The  New  England  Hospital  is  delightfully 
located  in  Boston  Highlands,  on  an  eminence,  from  which  the 
city  and  its  numerous  suburbs  can  be  viewed.  I  have  seen 
very  little  of  the  city  yet,  have  been  out  but  twice  since  I  came, 
which  I  do  not  consider  a  great  cross,  as  I  did  not  ccme  on  a 
visit.  The  hospital  is  net  connected  with  any  medical  school, 
nor  is  it  a  charity  hospital — except  a  few  endowed  beds  which 
may  be  occupied  by  free  patients ;  hence  the  class  of  people 
with  which  we  work  is  quite  different  from  that  ordinarily  met 
in  hospital  work.  I  am  to  spend  my  first  four  months  in  the 
surgical  wards  and  have  already  become  deeply  interested  in 
my  patients.  Each  doctor  is  expected  to  visit  the  patients  under 


Recollections  of  Pioneer  and  Army  Life. 

her  care  before  breakfast,  dinner  and  supper,  also  again  in  the 
forenoon  with  the  chief  of  the  hospital.  After  supper  each 
one  reports  to  the  chief  physician  the  condition  of  her  patients. 
Each  puts  up  her  own  remedies  also.  Tuesdays  and  Fridays 
are  set  apart  for  surgical  operations,  so  you  have  a  synopsis  of 
our  work,  except  that  I  did  not  say  that  we  are  expected  to 
write  the  histories  of  all  our  cases." 


A  Premonition  of  Her  Fate. 

"33  Warrenton  St.,  Boston,  Mass. 
"Dec.  30,  1879. 

"DEAR  EMMA. — I  think  you  might  have  made  a  further 
sacrifice  in  order  to  make  me  a  visit  and  see  Boston,  whose 
wonders  I  would  only  be  too  glad  to  visit  with  you;  then  you 
know  such  a  thing  might  happen  as  that  I  could  not  visit  you 
for  a  long,  long  time,  maybe  never,  and  then — no,  no,  I  will 
not  try  to  work  upon  your  feelings  in  such  a  way  as  to  unfit 
you  for  responding  to  the  demands  of  the  present;  but  then, 
after  a  while — not  now,  but  far  away  in  the  future,  the  burden 
of  years  or  some  such  inconvenience  may  possibly  interfere 
with  the  realization  of  anticipated  enjoyments;  only  a  bare  pos 
sibility  you  understand,  of  course.  You  ask  how  I  like  my 
profession.  My  reply  is,  the  more  I  know  of  the  principles 
upon  which  its  practice  is  founded  the  deeper  becomes  my  in 
terest  in  and  the  greater  my  admiration  for  it.  My  great 
lamentation  is  that  I  did  not  begin  the  study  ten  years  sooner 
than  I  did.  I  am,  and  have  been,  in  the  dispensary  connected 
with  the  N.  E.  Hospital.  We  have  clinics  every  forenoon  and 
while  away  our  afternoons,  and  alas !  too  many  of  our  nights, 
visiting  patients  at  their  homes.  It  is  especially  interesting  to 
be  called  up  at  i  or  2  in  the  night  when  the  horse-cars  are  not 
running  and  find  a  walk  of  from  T  to  3  miles  before  you  with 
the  inspiration  of  a  pouring  rain  or  a  terrific  snow-storm  to 
spur  you  on." 


20  Recollections  of  Pioneer  and  Army  Life. 

From  Germany  to  Mrs.  Kilgore. 

"Hotel  de  la  Rose,  Wiesbaden. 
"June  9,  1880. 

"DEAR  EMMA. — 1  postponed  answering  your  letter  until 
I  could  decide  what  disposition  I  would  make  of  myself.  I 
left  N.  Y.  on  the  nth  day  of  May,  then  undecided  whether  I 
should  remain  tnere  tor  any  lengtn  of  time,  or  come  here.  1 
spent  the  ten  days  in  N.  Y.,  and  in  company  with  two  friends 
from  Philadelphia,  who  met  me  there,  did  the  city  quite  thor 
oughly.  During  this  time  I  also  made  up  my  mind  to  come 
here,  and  in  accordance  with  that  conclusion  sailed  at  3:15 
p.  M.  in  the  'Maas,'  one  of  the  Netherland-American  S.  S. 
Co.'s  vessels,  sailing  between  N.  Y.  and  Rotterdam.  The 
time  in  which  this  steamer  usually  makes  the  trip  is  thirteen 
days,  but  owing  to  head  winds,  which  prevailed  all  the  time 
except  the  first  three  days,  and  the  roughness  of  the  German 
Ocean,  the  voyage  was  prolonged  to  fifteen  days,  lacking  three 
hours.  As  regarded  roughness  of  sea,  we  were  told  our  trip 
was  an  unusually  favorable  one,  even  for  this  season,  with  the 
exception  of  twenty-four  hours  on  the  German  Ocean,  which 
was  somewhat  boisterous,  but  not  alarmingly  so.  Notwith 
standing  the  smooth  sea,  which  was  like  a  mirror  most  of  the 
time,  I  was  sea-sick  eleven  days  of  the  fifteen ;  not  very  sick 
any  of  the  time,  but  so  dizzy  I  could  not  stand  on  my  feet,  and 
rather  than  substitute  my  head  for  these  ordinarily  useful  mem 
bers,  assumed  the  recumbent  position  on  deck  sixteen  hours  out 
of  the  twenty-four,  the  remaining  eight  in  my  berth  and  in  go 
ing  to  and  from  it.  I  am  convinced  that  I  might  have  escaped 
the  sea-sickness  entirely  had  I  gone  on  shipboard  in  good  con 
dition,  which  I  did  not ;  the  ten  days'  dissipation  in  N.  Y.  hav 
ing  had  the  opposite  effect.  But  I  will  be  wiser  next  tinie! 
The  remaining  five  days  I  enjoyed  very,  much.  I  will  take  this 
opportunity  of  commending  our  ship's  officers  for  their  thought 
ful  attention  and  gentlemanly  bearing,  which  in  no  small  de 
gree  aided  in  the  mitigation  of  the  wretchedness  attendant 
upon  sea-sickness.  When  you  are  ready  to  take  a  sea  voyage, 
you  can  not  do  better  than  to  patronize  some  of  the  steamers 
of  this  line.  We  arrived  at  Rotterdam  at  u  A.  M.  June  i6th, 
where  I  remained  until  10:30  A.  M.  next  day;  then  took  an 
express  train,  which  brought  me  here  at  10:30  P.  M.  of  the 
same  day.  I  did  not  make  the  famous  trip  along  the  Rhine  in 


Recollections  of  Pioneer  and  Army  Life..  27 

a  boat,  as  it  was  raining  that  morning  when  I  started  and  con 
tinued  to  do  so  all  day.  The  trip  requires  two  days  by  boat, 
while  I  came  by  rail  in  twelve  hours  and  saw  beautiful  scenery 
for  one  day.  It  is  truly  magnificent — yes,  glorious !  The  rail 
road  track  winds  along  the  river  just  far  enough  from  the 
edge  of  the  water  for  a  drive  and  walk,  and  upon  the  opposite 
side  of  the  track,  upon  its  veiy  edge  almost,  rise  abruptly  the 
hills  covered  with  grape  vines  which  seems  to  be  growing  from 
a  stone  pavement  as  seen  from  the  car  window — not  a  speck 
of  soil  could  be  seen. 

"The  journey  through  Holland  I  enjoyed  as  much.  It  is 
like  a  fairy  land.  I  could  scarcely  realize  that  I  was  not 
dreaming.  It  is  a  land  of  beautiful  gardens.  They  grow  some 
grain  and  grass,  but  always  in  small  plots,  edged  by  grass  of 
a  different  tint,  closely  cut,  serving  as  an  ornamental  border. 
Then  surrounding  this  a  wide  ditch  or  small  canal,  these  aver 
aging  about  ten  feet  in  width  and  serving  the  purpose  of  drains 
as  well  as  means  of  connection  between  different  localities. 
Of  public  highways  as  we  understand  that  term  there  are  very 
few  in  Holland,  travel  being  effected  in  small  boats  on  the 
canals,  which  I  should  judge  use  up  fully  one-sixth  of  the  sur 
face  of  the  country.  What  few  roads  there  are  have  on  either 
side  a  row  of  immense  trees  carefully  trimmed  and  whose 
branches  meet  overhead,  adding  greatly  to  the  beauty  of  the 
landscapes,  and  no  doubt  contributing  to  the  comfort  of  the 
travelers. 

"I  had  Quite  an  amusing  experience  at  one  of  the  railway 
stations  in  Holland.  No  one  could  speak  or  understand  Eng 
lish  and  I  could  not  understand  Dutch.  One  fellow  seemed  to 
have  a  sort  of  vague  idea  of  the  signification  of  the  words 
'ticket'  and  'luggage,'  which  he  continued  to  repeat  in  very 
much  the  same  tone  and  manner  of  the  faithful  on  their 
Ave  Marias,  as  if  by  so  doing  he  hoped  to  receive  inspiration 
sufficient  to  make  victors  of  him  and  myself  both.  It  was  ex 
ceedingly  amusing,  but,  as  the  inspiration  was  not  forthcoming 
and  everything  around  seemed  to  point  to  the  early  departure 
of  the  waiting  train  for  somewhere,  I  determined  to  exercise 
my  faith  in  a  more  energetic  manner,  and  with  an  incredible 
amount  of  gesticulation  performed  during  the  few  minutes  left 
before  leaving  of  the  train,  succeeded  in  getting  aboard,  bag 
and  baggage.  I  leaned  back  and  drew  a  long  breath,  feeling- 
quite  sure  of  being  on  the  verge  of  departure  for  somewhere, 
just  where  was  sufficiently  mysterious  to  keep  my  interest  in 


26  Recollections  of  Pioneer  and  Army  Life. 

the  journey  from  flagging  until  about  i  P.  M.  of  the  same  day 
(the  hour  of  starting  was  10:30  A.  M.),  when  the  train  stopped 
and  everybody  got  out  and  I  could  see  they  were  unloading  the 
baggage,  and  yet  there  seemed  to  be  no  station,  only  a  single 
large  ouilding.  Suddenly  it  began  to  dawn  upon  me  that  we 
had  reached  the  boundary  between  Holland  and  Germany  and 
here  we  were  to  have  our  baggage  examined  by  Custom  House 
officers.  I  sat  in  the  car,  knowing  that  if  my  surmise  proved 
correct,  the  day's  mystery  would  soon  be  solved.  In  a  few 
minutes  one  of  the  uniformed  guards  appeared  at  the  door  of 
the  car  and  addressed  yours  truly  as  follows,  'Haben  Sie  bag 
gage?'  to  which  I  replied  in  the  affirmative  and  immediately 
clambered  out,  went  into  the  Custom  House,  opened  one  of 
my  trunks,  into  which  the  officers  cast  an  indifferent  glance, 
and  at  once  marked  them  both  free  from  duty.  Being  now 
among  Germans,  whose  language  I  could  speak  and  understand 
to  some  extent,  I  learned  that  I  was  on  the  right  track.  I  then 
took  my  seat  in  the  car  and  in  a  few  minutes  we  had  resumed 
our  journey,  reaching  Wiesbaden  at  the  hour  previously  stated. 
I  shall  probably  remain  here  two  months,  then  go  to  Zurich  or 
Berne,  which  I  can  not  yet  say. 

"With  kind  regards  to  all  my  friends  and  love  to  yourself, 
I  am  as  ever, 

"Your  sincere  friend,  R.  J.  NICOL." 


From  Switzerland  to  Mrs.  Kilgorc. 

"Zurich,  Dec.  11,  1880. 

"DEAR  EMMA. — You  evidently  think  crossing  the  ocean 
an  extraordinary  affair,  yet  you  think  nothing  of  making  a 
long  journey  by  rail  every  few  months  which  is  attended  with 
many  more  inconveniences  than  traveling  by  water.  I  admit 
sea-sickness  is  not  the  most  agreeable  sensation  imaginable,  yet 
believe  it  can  be  to  a  great  extent  avoided  by  going  on  ship 
board  in  good  condition  and  exercising  a  little  common  sense 
the  first  few  days  of  the  voyage. 

"As  to  your  question,  'Am  I  attending  the  University?' 
Yes,  I  am  attending  two  lectures  daily  and  the  remainder  of  the 
time  devoting  to  the  clinics  and  the  hospitals;  am  also  having 


Recollections  of  Pioneer  and  Army  Life.  29 

practice  work  in  the  pathological  laboratory  three  hours  every 
Friday.  *  *  *  *  Would  be  glad  to  take  you  the  satin  and  silk 
dresses  were  I  going  in  your  direction,  and  what  you  want  will 
be  sent  as  soon  as  possible.  If  there  is  any  other  article  which 
the  second  cousin  of  the  President-elect  of  the  U.  S.  wishes, 
I  would  be  most  happy  to  lend  my  aid  in  procuring  the  same. 
One  can  buy  the  best  quality  of  kid  gloves — four  buttons — for 
four  and  a  half  francs.  They  can  be  sent  by  mail  for  12  cents 
per  pair. 

"Sincerely  yours,  etc.,  R.  J.  N." 

Miss  Nicol  was  my  mother's  favorite  niece,  and  although 
widely  sundered,  the  two  loving  friends  made  the  journey  to 
other  worlds  than  ours  nearly  together. 


CHAPTER  V. 


THE  SOUTH  HENDERSON  CHURCH. 

The  South  Henderson  Associate  Reformed  Congregation 
was  organized  by  the  Rev.  Alexander  Blakie  on  July  4,  1835, 
with  a  membership  of  fifty-nine.  My  father  and  John  Giles 
were  elected  elders.  Four  sermons  were  preached  in  my  fath 
er's  barn  prior  to  the  organization,  two  by  Rev.  Jeremiah  Mor 
row  in  1834,  and  two  by  Rev.  Thomas  Turner  in  1835.  The 
first  meeting-house,  a  frame  structure,  was  built  in  1837;  the 
second,  of  stone,  in  1855. 

The  frame  meeting-house  was  the  one  familiar  to  me  in 
my  childhood.  Here  the  honest  yeomanry  of  the  new  country 
met  in  reverential  worship.  Here  the  local  workmen  put  to 
gether  their  share  of  the  moral  framework  of  the  political 
structure  which  forms  the  commonwealth  of  Illinois.  The  in 
teresting  spot,  hallowed  by  association  with  so  many  good  and 
useful  lives,  became  a  notable  landmark  in  the  county  and  a 
modest  force  and  center  in  our  Western  civilization.  Our  fath 
ers  did  a  crude  and  imperfect  work  possibly,  but  it  was  done 
in  sincerity  and  there  is  none  to  gainsay  it  to  this  day.  The 
open,  original  forest  (the  heavy  undergrowth  has  since  ob 
scured  the  view)  permitted  us  to  see  the  meeting-house  one- 
third  of  a  mile  away  from  my  father's  doorstep,  and  we  had 
a  private  pathway  through  the  woods  by  which  we  attended 
the  services.  Here  the  old-style  preachers  of  the  ancient 
Scotch  faith  made  the  spot  lurid  with  the  fires  that  are  never 
quenched  and  made  the  prayers  hold  out  better  than  the  legs 
of  those  who  stood  to  hear  them.  At  unanticipated  intervals 
we  had  a  supply  direct  from  Scotland.  They  were  of  the 


Recollections  of  Pioneer  and  Army  Life.  31 

straight  John  Knox  brand — very  raw.  They  employed  the 
method  direct.  They  handed  out  the  prescription.  If  the 
flock  would  not  take  the  dose,  because  it  was  "too  strong," 
then  the  devil  would  be  to  pay,  and  his  terms  were  hard  to 
meet. 

I  am  glad  I  did  not  hear  everything  the  preacher  said. 
While  he  breathed  threatenings,  and  warned  the  good  people 
of  an  impending  smash-up,  I  leaned  my  weary  head  the  long, 
hot  summer  day  on  my  dear  mother's  arm,  oblivious  of  it  all, 
and  I  think  she  was  as  glad  as  I  was  to  get  out  of  the  stifling 
close  room  into  the  fresh  air,  where  we  could  eat  cookies,  pie 
and  chicken,  and  talk  with  the  neighbors  during  "intermission." 
I  am  happy  to  say,  there  was  a  constant  aspiration  toward  bet 
ter  things,  both  as  to  forms  and  doctrine — a  permanent  revolt 
among  the  less  hide-bound  members  against  the  absurdities  of 
Rouse's  version  and  allied  straight- jacket  methods  of  script 
ural  construction.  The  old  church  cracked  the  whip  over  its 
poor  slaves  who  would  not — many  of  them — so  much  as  look 
up  and  claim  an  inheritance  here,  much  less  a  rest  with  the 
people  of  God  hereafter.  Derision  in  the  seat  of  the  scornful, 
and  ridicule  in  the  church  itself,  drove  Rouse  back  to  his  native 
highlands,  and  opened  the  hearts  and  minds  of  men  and  wo 
men  nursed  in  the  ironclad  forms  of  an  ignorant  and  brutish 
age  to  the  light  and  warmth  of  the  truth  as  it  is  in  Jesus — 
and  America ! 

The  indulgence  in  strong  drink,  a  convivial-  weakness  not 
uncommon  among  the  members  and  not  wholly  unknown 
among  the  clergy,  was  esteemed  a  trivial  offense  compared  to 
a  little  sanity  in  the  ritual.  I  can  speak  by  the  card,  for  my 
mother  declared  that  the  old  preacher  who  baptised  me  had  a 
preternatural  affection  for  his  toddy  and  was  crazy  withal ! 
Almost  without  exception,  all  the  old-time  clergy  were  grovel 
ing  tobacco-chewers.  There  were  some  odd  specimens  among 
the  early  pastors  of  the  South  Henderson  church.  Father 
Friedley  was  one  of  these.  He  had  a  very  priestly  air  when 
harnessed  for  service,  and  he  was  an  honest  little  man,  but  he 


32  Recollections  of  Pioneer  ami  Army  Life. 

couldn't  preach  worth  shucks.  His  best  point  was  an  unfail 
ing  good  nature,  and  his  worst  an  incorrigible  laziness  that 
must  have  reached  back  lineally  through  seventeen  generations, 
it  was  so  thoroughly  bred  up.  His  morning  service  was  sched 
uled  for  ii  o'clock  A.  M.;  he  did  nobly,  for  him,  if  he  hove  in 
sight  of  his  flock  at  i  o'clock  p.  M.,  and  the  apprehension  the 
poor  man  felt,  that  under  the  circumstances  the  "session" 
would  have  a  rather  chilly  reception  planned  for  him,  did  not 
add  to  his  peace  of  mind !  Later  on  he  taught  the  Brokelbank 
"Academy,"  and  still  later  the  public  school  in  the  court-room 
at  the  Yellow  Banks,  where  I  took  advantage  of  his  kindness, 
and  along  with  two  other  boys  got  leave  to  study  in  the  shade 
of  the  black-jacks  outside !  Why  our  elders  put  us  to  study 
ing  Latin  when  as  yet  we  knew  nothing  about  our  own  tongue 
is  one  of  the  mysteries  not  pertinent  to  this  narrative.  There 
was  blue-grass  in  the  bushy  groves  in  those  days,  big  bull 
snakes,  strawberries  and  flocks  of  quail.  My  companions, 
John  Brook  and  Jim  Pollock,  were  very  good  in  the  Latin 
grammar  and  in  reading  "Historiae  Sacrae,"  but  a  large  portion 
of  our  time  was  spent  in  gathering  violets  and  fighting  'em  as 
Johnny  Jump-ups.  I  remember  well,  at  a  point  not  over  fifty 
yards  from  the  court-house,  catching  over  a  dozen  quail  in  my 
trap  and  losing  half  as  many  more  in  my  efforts  to  hold  them 
all  in  one  hand  while  I  reached  under  and  pulled  them  out  by 
twos  and  threes  with  the  other.  The  sandy  level  extending 
back  from  the  river  to  main  Henderson  was  heavily  wooded 
and  the  soil  fertile,  the  result  of  decades  of  rotted  leaves.  In 
places  the  ground  was  heavily  carpeted  with  blue-grass,  and 
the  whole  of  it  so  covered,  but  in  places  thinly.  When  the 
original  forest  of  large  oak  trees  was  cut  away  and  the  fierce 
heat  of  mid-summer  fell  unbroken  upon  the  sandy  loam,  the 
strength  thereof  disappeared  like  snow  in  May.  The  forests  in 
the  great  economy  of  Nature  are  ranked  by  the  Psalmist  with 
the  seas  and  the  mountain  ranges,  and  the  mental  feather 
weight  who  will  invade  their  ranks  for  indiscriminate  slaughter 


Recollections  of  Pioneer  and  .  irmy  Life.  33 

should  be  indicted  for  the  murder  of  earth's  chiefest  conserv 
ing  glory. 

To  gather  up  the  threads  of  my  discourse :  Dominie  Fried- 
ley  I  believe  really  preferred  teaching  to  roasting  such  an 
immense  majority  of  the  human  race  in  the  flames  of  the  pit. 
He  did  not  take  kindly  to  the  business  of  a  stoker.  The  dear, 
kind,  patient  old  man !  He  will  get  his  share  of  the  good 
things  coming  I  verily  believe,  whatever  becomes  of  the  rest 
of  us! 

As  a  class  the  old-style  preachers  knew  no  other  way  than 
to  strike  terror  into  our  guilty  souls — to  scare  us  into  the  king 
dom.  The  Sunday  aspect  at  South  Henderson  was  rather 
grim.  The  sermons  were  wrathful.  Robert  Ross^,  who  was 
a  comparatively  modern  preacher  there,  had  but  one  burden — 
the  wrath  to  come !  His  favorite  phrase,  which  he  never  omit 
ted,  regardless  of  the  text,  was  "the  weeping  and  wailing  and 
gnashing  of  teeth"  as  the  seething  masses  of  humanity,  like 
maggots  in  a  dunghill,  crawled  over  each  other  in  their  efforts 
to  get  out  of  the  flames.  One  impression  only  was  indelibly 
stamped  upon  my  youthful  mind  by  these  sermons — that  of 
terror,  and  the  nightmare  follows  me  like  a  shadow  to  this 
day !  And  yet  to  my  immature  understanding  there  was  the 
suggestion  that  my  elders  took  these  anathemas  with  some 
grains  of  salt ;  that,  after  all,  it  may  not  be  as  rough  sledding 
in  the  great  hereafter  as  the  picture  drawn  would  seem  to 
imply.  My  father,  contemplative  and  discerning,  did  much 
thinking  on  religious  subjects  on  his  own  account.  He  was  an 
inquirer,  and  welcomed  the  light  which  shone  from  his  varied 
reading.  He  was  a  great  admirer  of  Dr.  N.  L.  Rice  and  he 
never  failed,  when  opportunity  offered,  to  hear  that  eminent 
man  in  his  own  pulpit  in  St.  Louis.  On  these  occasions  he 
was  fed  on  manna  not  so  severely  roasted  as  that  to  which  he 
was  accustomed  at  home. 

An  interesting  old  couple  in  regular  attendance  upon  the 
services  were  the  aged  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Davis — coming  and  going 
in  their  well-remembered  "one-horse  shay."  Mr.  Davis  was 


34  Recollections  of  Pioneer  and  Army  Life. 

a  figure  sure  to  attract  attention  from  any  boy.  His  age  (he 
must  have  been  a  veteran  of  1812),  his  erect  carriage;  and  his 
queer,  drab-felt  great-coat  coming  down  to  his  heels,  and  its 
series  of  ever-enlarging  capes,  beginning  with  a  small  one  at 
the  throat  and  increasing  in  size  clown  to  the  point  of  the 
shoulders,  and  the  fastening  at  the  collar  (a  twisted  brass 
chain  and  hook) — the  whole  giving  one  a  good  idea  of  the 
appearance  of  historical  figures  of  the  past. 

The  fathers  of  South  Henderson  were  of  that  grain  that 
if  a  prejudice  once  found  lodgment  therein,  it  was  like  a  four- 
pronged,  hard-and-fast  molar  tooth — one  must  break  the  jaw 
to  get  it  out;  but  with  all  their  shortcomings,  of  whatever 
nature,  which  they  shared  in  common  with  their  fellow-men, 
they  were,  as  a  rule,  clean  as  a  new  silver  dollar,  as  welcome, 
and  would  pass  the  solid  globe  around.  The  congregation  was 
about  equally  divided  between  immigrants  from  the  North  and 
South — members  from  Pennsylvania,  Ohio  and  Indiana  had 
their  equivalents  from  Georgia,  South  Carolina  and  Tennessee, 
and  some  of  these  latter  who  had  withdrawn  from  the  South 
were  so  poisoned  by  the  virus  of  slavery  that  they  continued 
to  vote  for  the  oppressor  as  before ;  but  while  the  elder  gen 
erations  have  passed  away,  I  remain  steadfast  in  the  hope  and 
belief  that  some  time  or  other,  in  the  future  ages,  their  de 
scendants  will  cease  to  vote  the  Democratic  ticket. 

And  now  as  to  King  David :  he  was  a  musician — the  chief 
musician  and  composer  of  his  time,  the  leader  of  a  choir;  the 
companion,  friend,  and  patron  of  choristers.  His  psalms,  or 
songs,  were  all  addressed  to  some  one  of  the  chief  musicians, 
by  name,  his  contemporaries.  It  was  his  business  and  chief 
delight  to  "sing  a  new  song"  unto  the  Lord,  with  "the  harp, 
with  trumpets,  and  the  sound  of  cornet,  with  the  timbrel,  and 
with  stringed  instruments"  and  "organs,"  with  the  "loud,"  the 
"high-sounding  cymbals."  He  was  the  inspired  composer  of 
Israel  as  Mozart  and  Mendelssohn  and  their  compeers  were 
the  inspired  children  of  song  of  a  later  time.  Our  dear  old 


Recollections  of  Pioneer  and  Army  Life.  35 

fathers  affected  to  admire  David's  songs  above  all  other  men, 
and  in  the  same  breath  to  despise  his  orchestra.  How  could 
that  be?  But  his  orchestra,  as  we  have  seen  in  the  passing 
years,  is  a  monster  which  the  old  Church,  with  all  its  qualms, 
"endured,  then  pitied,  then  embraced."  I  salute  them  most 
heartily  in  their  emergence  from  the  thralldom  of  Rouse  and 
all  the  bigotry  of  centuries.  May  their  choirs,  their  organs, 
and  their  "gospel  songs"  prevail  and  spread  till  they  fill  the 
whole  earth !  And  I  lament  and  mourn  with  them  that  one  of 
their  immature  preachers,  in  a  public  assembly,  in  the  year 
1905,  should  make  such  an  ass  of  himself  as  to  attempt  to 
cover  with  opprobrium  the  inspired  song  "Lead,  Kindly  Light." 
The  Church  will  purge  herself  of  all  such  indigestible  matter 
in  due  time. 


CHAPTER  VI. 


OFF  FOR  OREGON.    FRONTIER  LIFE  IN  THE  EARLY 
FORTIES. 

In  the  year  1845  some  of  our  kin  and  acquaintances — a 
part  of  that  restless,  migratory  advance  guard  of  the  race — 
anticipating  a  lack  of  elbow-room  on  the  fertile  soil  of  Illinois, 
gathered  up  their  small  effects  and  struck  out  with  their  ox- 
teams  and  prairie  schooners  for  Oregon !  Think  of  all  that 
has  happened  on  the  "plains"  since  that  year!  Around  Forts 
Bridger,  Snelling  and  Kearney ;  Zack  Taylor  and  his  little  army 
on  the  Rio  Grande ;  the  expeditions  along  the  Santa  Fe  trail ; 
John  C.  Fremont  and  Kit  Carson  and  their  alleged  explora 
tions  ;  Albert  Sidney  Johnston  and  his  army  menacing  the  Mor 
mons  in  Utah ;  the  Argonauts  in  search  of  the  golden  fleece  ; 
the  dramatic  scenes  in  the  Lava  Beds  and  the  bloody  vengeance 
taken  on  the  pale-face ;  the  score  of  Indian  campaigns  marked 
by  the  bloody  reprisals  and  heroic  deaths  since  these  emigrants 
made  their  peaceful  journey  to  the  Willamette  valley ! 

They  pulled  up  at  my  father's  gate  to  say  farewell,  and 
they  might  well  do  so,  for  it  was  the  final  separation  of  old 
friends.  They  had  gotten  a  mile  distant  on  their  journey  to 
the  Pacific  when  we  discovered  that  they  had  forgotten  a  rifle 
(an  important  part  of  their  equipment,  as  regarding  game 
and  defense),  and  my  young  cousin  Mary,  always  quick  to 
act,  picked  up  the  gun  and  ran  across  lots,  through  an  eighty- 
acre  field,  and  intercepted  them ;  I,  doing  my  best  to  keep  up 
with  her,  got  lost  in  the  weeds.  During  these  years  my 
young  cousins,  older  than  I,  Sarah  Ann,  Mary  and  Ellen, 
daughters  of  my  uncle  James  Jamison,  took  care  of  me  and 


Recollections  of  Pioneer  and  Army  Life.  37 

younger  brother  when  our  parents  were  absent  from  home. 
Mary  was  a  fearless,  enterprising  girl,  and  was  wont  to  take 
me  down  to  the  sheep  pasture,  along  the  little  spring-fed 
"branch,"  among  the  crawfish-holes,  in  search  of  adventure. 
Here  she  found  a  garter  snake  or  two  one  day,  and  stunning 
them  by  a  stroke  with  a  stick,  would  lay  them  on  a  stump  and 
cut  them  in  two  with  an  axe  she  held  in  her  hand.  I  stood 
by  in  consternation,  looking  at  the  pieces  wriggle ! 

My  uncle  James  and  aunt  Polly  McKinney  died  at  thirty- 
five  years  of  age,  or  thereabouts,  leaving  behind  them  these 
young  cousins  and  their  brothers,  Samuel  R.  and  George  Mc 
Kinney,  all  of  whom  lived  to  old  age  and  have  been  blessed 
in  their  day  and  generation.  The  three  daughters  made  their 
home  under  my  father's  roof  at  intervals  while  they  were 
growing  up,  and  all  of  them  were  married  under  it.  Sarah 
Ann  was  my  mother's  right  hand  for  some  years,  and  much 
endeared  to  us  by  her  faithful  services  in  the  household.  My 
uncle  James  was  the  eldest  son  in  my  grandfather's  family, 
an  honor  to  his  race,  as  indeed  were  all  my  uncles,  his  broth 
ers.  He  was  a  member  of  the  Presbyterian  congregation  at 
the  Yellow  Banks,  and  after  the  pioneer  method,  he  went  to 
the  woods  and  cut  out  and  delivered  the  timbers  for  the  frame 
of  the  church,  which  is  still  in  use  in  an  almost  perfect  state 
of  preservation.  The  brothers,  James,  William  R.  (my  fath 
er),  John  Calvin,  Harvey  and  Nathan  H.,  were  home-builders, 
as  were  their  forebears.  They  founded  Christian  homes  and 
surrounded  them  with  peace  and  plenty.  They  were  all  lovers 
of  choice  fruits,  and  literally  rested  under  the  trees  which 
bore  twelve  manner  of  fruits  in  this  world,  as  they  had  a  well- 
founded  hope  should  be  their  lot  in  the  world  to  come.  And 
now,  when  I  recall  them  in  their  old  age,  their  bent  forms  and 
their  blameless  lives,  I  feel  that  just  pride  in  an  honorable 
ancestry  which  should  be  the  inheritance  of  all. 

It  was  during  the;  winter  of  the  deep  snow  (1845-46)  that 
my  father  would  bundle  us  all  into  the  two-horse  sled  and 
drive  by  moonlight  to  the  Davenport  school-house,  where  the 


38  Recollections  of  Pioneer  and  Army  Life, 

singing-school,  under  the  training  of  Mr.  Joseph  Chickering, 
was  held.  The  patrons  were  David  and  Aleck  Finley  and 
their  sisters,  Sarah  and  Eliza,  and  the  young  people  of  their 
generation.  The  school  was  very  small  in  numbers  and  the 
income  slight  for  the  young  Yankee  singing-master.  What 
ever  it  may  have  been,  it  was  subsidiary  to  the  old  gray  mare 
and  the  big  undulatory  driving-wheel  of  the  turning-lathe  at 
the  furniture  factory,  which  would  be  under  full  swing  the 
next  morning  at  the  Yellow  Banks.  There  must  be  some  of 
Mr.  Chickering's  kitchen  and  rocking-chairs,  bedsteads,  etc., 
in  use  in  Henderson  and  Warren  counties  to  this  day.  If 
none  can  be  found  in  use,  but  a  piece  of  one  of  them  can  be 
recovered  from  the  weeds  back  of  the  stable.  I  hope  it  will 
be  placed  in  a  glass  case  for  preservation,  for  I  know  of  no 
man's  handiwork  better  worth  recovery  from  the  "tooth  of 
time  and  razure  of  oblivion." 

One  of  the  figures  that  interested  me  in  my  childhood  was 
old  Mr.  Lusk,  the  deer-hunter.  He  was  a  dilapidated-looking 
old  sheik,  with  a  glittering  eye.  He  rode  a  horse  whose  sur 
name  might  have  been  "The  Ancient  of  Days,"  and  it  had  a 
movement  like  the  planets ;  that  is  to  say,  if  you  had  the  neces 
sary  instruments  and  were  versed  in  astronomical  calculations, 
you  might  determine  the  progress  of  that  horse.  It  was  be 
yond  the  scope  of  plain  mathematics.  It  was  a  special  Provi 
dence  in  behalf  of  the  old  hunter,  having  been  designed  from 
the  foundation  of  the  world  for  stalking  big  game.  Mounted, 
you  could  not  tell  where  the  man  left  off  and  the  horse  began, 
the  two  were  so  essentially  one.  Moving  like  Fate  through 
the  open  forest  in  the  early,  frosty  morning,  the  old  hunter 
of  sixty  years  ago  rode  imperceptibly  along  with  his  long  rifle 
on  his  shoulder,  a  tinkling  bell  hanging  under  the  horse's 
throat  and  a  bit  of  bright  red  flannel  conspicuously  in  view. 
He  never  pursued  his  quarry ;  the  agile,  sinewy  pride  of  the 
forest  heard  the  soft,  scarcely  audible  notes  of  the  bell  long 
before  it  came  into  view.  Its  well-known  curiosity  was  in- 


Recollections  of  Pioneer  and  Army  Life. 


39 


stantly  aroused  and  it  strode  inquiringly,  in  its  clean-cut  beau 
ty,  directly  toward  the  hunter,  whose  searching  eye  took  in  the 
slightest  movement  in  the  wide  forest  around.  The  instant  the 
stag  came  into  view,  and  stood  like  a  statue  with  uplifted  muz 
zle,  the  report  of  the  rifle  was  heard,  and  the  game  was  there 
to  take  home ! 


CHAPTER  VII. 


THE  ILLUSIONS  OF  CHILDHOOD. 

Every  child  has  its  share  of  illusions,  acquired  in  part 
from  the  conversation  of  his  elders,  which  he  misconstrues. 
On  a  journey  into  Rock  Island  County  with  my  parents  to 
visit  my  aunt  Susan  Nicol,  I  was  queerly  impressed  by  an 
old  bachelor  who  lived  alone  in  a  cabin  on  the  roadside.  Me 
believed  in  witches,  and  would  not  sleep  on  the  first  floor  of 
his  cabin,  but  in  the  loft,  to  which  he  ascended  by  a  ladder, 
which  he  drew  up  after  him !  The  lower  floor  was  covered 
with  a  jumble  of  trumpery,  including  buffalo  robes,  and  so 
forth.  I  tried  to  catch  the  meaning  of  the  conversation  be 
tween  my  father  and  mother  concerning  this  man  and  the 
witches  which  were  his  unwelcome  visitors.  I  was  curious  to 
know  the  dimensions  and  appearance  of  a  witch.  At  the  edge 
of  the  grove  near  his  cabin  were  some  singular  bits  of  handi 
work  made  of  split  hoop-poles  the  size  and  length  of  wagon- 
bows.  These  were  bent  and  the  sharpened  ends  stuck  in  the 
ground;  they  were  in  pairs,  the  one  bent  over  the  other  at 
right  angles.  I  wondered  what  these  were  for.  Did  the 
witches  live  in  those  wicker  houses?  My  father  was  not  com 
municative  on  the  question  of  hobgoblins,  and  I  did  not  feel 
at  liberty  to  push  my  inquiries. 

When  a  small  lad,  I  was  playing  near  my  father's  store 
when  a  wraith  came  out  of  the  invisible  and  disappeared  be 
fore  my  affrighted  gaze  in  the  same  direction.  Out  of  the 
viewless  air  came  he  and  went  in  the  same  way — like  a  flash. 
It  was  the  figure  of  a  man  in  a  devil  of  a  hurry,  carrying 
something.  It  might  have  been  the  devil  himself,  who  had 
captured  a  small  boy  and  was  making  off  with  him !  He  made 


Recollections  of   Pioneer  and  Army  Life.  41 

the  dust  fly  as  he  sped  away  into  the  unknown.  He  made  an 
impression  on  me  at  the  moment  which  slowly  faded  away  as 
the  years  passed  on.  Tie  never  came  back  and  I  am  glad  of  it. 

I  was  standing  under  a  certain  tree  with  another  boy  in 
the  deep  woods  of  the  Henderson  River  bottoms  when  a  cer 
tain  warning  sound  seemed  to  come  from  the  tree  and  we 
thought  it  trembled.  We  left  the  spot  without  so  much  as 
saying  "Good  day"  to  the  man  up-a-tree,  or  whatever  it  may 
have  been.  Possibly  it  was  one  of  those  lofty  elms  the  poet 
refers  to,  which  "murmur  sometimes  overhead  and  sometimes 
underground."  I  was  taken  to  Burlington  when  the  town  was 
known  as  the  "Flint  Hills,"  and  as  we  sat  in  the  wagon  waiting 
for  the  ferry-boat  I  was  fascinated  with  the  scene  across  the 
river,  which  I  was  looking  at  for  the  first  time.  The  hills  across 
the  broad  stretch  of  water  looked  like  mountains,  and  at  their 
base  along  the  river  shore  a  number  of  men  were  busy  wash 
ing  lumber  in  the  cribs  and  piling  it  on  the  bank.  They  looked 
like  Lilliputians  a  finger-length  in  height,  and  the  boards  they 
handled  like  toothpicks !  I  seemed  to  be  looking  at  them 
through  the  wrong  end  of  a  telescope,  and  my  eyes  were 
riveted  upon  them  in  mute  astonishment.  There  was  nothing 
illusory  about  the  ferry-boat,  which  was  a  flat-bottomed  scow 
propelled  by  horse-power  connected  to  paddle-wheels,  and 
would  carry  two  teams  at  a  crossing.  It  was  steered  with  a 
big  oar  like  a  raft  of  lumber. 

I  made  the  acquaintance  of  Elijah  the  Tishbite  early  in 
life.  In  one  of  my  father's  old  books  there  was  a  picture  of 
Elijah  seated  in  an  automobile  borne  up  on  a  billow  of  fire. 
He  had  lost  his  hat  and  his  bald  head  stood  forth,  the  long, 
thin,  gray  hair  on  the  back  of  his  scalp  streaming  in  the  wind. 
His  foot  was  on  the  brake,  and  he  was  holding  on  for  dear 
life.  His  Mobler  seemed  easily  dirigible,  notwithstanding  the 
horses  on  the  front.  They  were  there  for  effect !  They  had 
no  pull,  for  they  had  no  harness  on!  But  they  were  beauti 
fully  rampant  and  I  could  see  that  Lije  was  stuck  on  his  team. 
They  had  no  use  for  harness  in  the  country  he  was  going  to. 


42  Recollections  of  Pioneer  and  Army  Life. 

and  he  gave  his  set  to  Elisha  along  with  his  old  clothes.  He 
was  two  miles  up  when  I  first  noticed  him,  going  lickety- 
brindle,  no  open  bridges  to  engulf  him,  no  traction  cars  cross 
ing  just  a  hair  ahead  of  him,  no  woman  frozen  stiff  with  fright 
on  his  beat.  I  never  saw  a  man  enjoy  a  ride  so  much.  No 
wonder  Elisha  tore  his  coat  from  tail  to  collar  when  he  found 
he  could  not  go  along !  I  got  nervous  for  fear  one  or  more  of 
those  horses  would  plunge  off  the  billow  of  fire  and  break  his 
neck.  I  watched  that  Mobler  spin  away,  up,  up,  and  away,  till 
night  came  on;  then  Lije  sheered  up  to  the  door  and  asked 
the  man  in  the  moon  for  the  loan  of  an  overcoat.  He  ex 
plained  that  he  didn't  think  it  was  so  far ;  wanted  to  kick  him 
self  for  throwing  his  own  coat  out  at  Lish's  head  as  his  chariot 
responded  to  the  throttle  and  lit  out.  As  he  sped  away  for 
the  Big  Bear  in  the  polar  zenith  overhead  he  confessed  to  him 
self  that  the  climate  was  different  from  what  he  expected ; 
then  he  began  to  wonder  if  the  contents  of  the  storage-tank 
would  last  the  trip  out,  and  if  he  could  buy  a  bearskin  cap 
with  eartips  anywhere  on  the  route.  The  next  station  was 
Mars,  and  he  made  as  if  to  stop  a  few  minutes  and  aid  the 
constable  by  an  inquiry  as  to  whether  Rockefeller  had  been 
seen  anywhere  around;  and  too,  Lije  had  another  motive  up 
his  sleeve :  if,  in  aiding  the  officer  to  serve  his  subpoena,  he 
might  in  the  same  motion  persuade  Rock  to  refill  his  storage- 
tank  ;  but  Mars  was  not  to  be  caught  napping.  He  mistook 
the  Mobler  for  an  English  fishing-smack  and  let  go  a  broad 
side  with  his  quick-firing  guns.  That  settled  it  for  Lije.  He 
bore  away  limping,  but  not  completely  disabled.  I  watched 
him  as  he  mounted  into  the  inaccessible  verge  of  planetary 
life.  I  felt  bad  for  Lije,  to  think  he  would  go  on  such  a  fool 
trip.  The  billow  of  fire  was  dying  out ;  it  was  dull  red,  almost 
cold;  the  storage-tank  had  collapsed,  the  punctured  wheels 
shriveled  up,  and  the  skeleton  of  the  venerable  chauffeur 
sprawled  over  the  disjointed  chariot,  the  grinning  skull  and  its 
streaming  hair  crowning  the  wreck — drifting,  drifting,  to 
shores  where  all  is  dumb ! 


Recollections  of  Pioneer  and  Army  Life.  43 

Most  dreams  are  of  the  earth  earthy — in  line  with  the  cur 
rent  of  our  lives;  but  some  of  our  visions  are  separate  and 
apart;  flashed  upon  the  penumbra  of  our  slumber  world  for 
a  definite  purpose ;  prophetic  they  are,  and  savor  of  admonition, 
instruction,  inspiration,  or  all  together.  Most  men  affect  to 
laugh  at  them,  but  all  men  believe — reticently  and  reluctantly 
perhaps,  but  they  believe.  No  intelligent  man  questions  the 
visions  that  crossed  the  disk  of  Abraham  Lincoln's  slumbers — 
that  wonderful,  startling  portent  of  tremendous  events.  Ten 
years  before  the  Civil  War  a  marching  column  of  troops  inter 
cepted  my  progress  in  the  slumber  world,  led  by  cavalry,  fol 
lowed  by  infantry,  artillery  and  trains — a  formidable  array 
that  threatened  to  trample  me  like  a  leaf  under  the  horses' 
hoofs ;  unlike  anything  I  had  ever  seen  in  reality  or  on  can 
vas,  but  familiar  to  me  during  the  Civil  War.  I  have  for 
gotten  a  thousand  of  my  idle  dreams  as  completely  as  though 
they  had  never  been.  Not  so  this  one — the  token  of  a  com 
ing  day ! 


CHAPTER  VIII. 


THE  FAMILY  REMOVES  TO  THE  YELLOW  BANKS. 

In  the  year  1847  my  father  rented  his  homestead,  which 
had  cost  him  so  much  labor,  and  removed  to  the  Yellow  Banks, 
to  become  a  merchant,  for  which  he  was  well  fitted ;  that  is  to 
say,  for  general  merchandising,  which  was  the  vogue  in  his 
day.  He  was  a  skillful  and  experienced  trader,  and  his  enter 
prises  included  investments  in  the  Northern  pineries,  the  sale 
of  lumber  from  the  mills  on  Black  River  in  Wisconsin,  and  the 
buying  and  shipping  of  grain,  which  involved  long  credits  to 
the  farmers  and  the  maximum  of  bookkeeping.  The  transfer 
to  the  county  seat  was  easily  made,  for  he  owned  a  good  resi 
dence  and  half  a  block  of  ground  in  the  residence  district,  a 
combined  storeroom  and  warehouse  on  Market  Square,  and 
a  separate  grain  warehouse  ready  to  hand.  For  many  years 
he  was  highly  prosperous — down  to  the  time  foreseen  by 
sagacious  business  men,  when  the  channels  of  trade  and  com 
merce  underwent  a  radical  change — from  the  river  south  to 
New  York  and  Boston  via  the  steel  rail.  In  the  palmy  days 
there  was  an  immense  river  tonnage  and  the  number  of 
steamers  in  commission  in  surprising  contrast  to  the  slight 
carrying  trade  on  the  river  in  1911.  This  pioneer  county  seat, 
known  to  the  Indians  as  the  Yellow  Banks,  has  a  site  favor 
able  to  the  eye,  if  broken  to  the  hope.  The  traveler  on  the 
deck  of  the  steamer  approaching  the  town  from  the  south, 
looking  up-stream  over  two  miles  of  the  channel,  is  apt  to  in 
quire  with  an  awakened  interest  the  name  of  the  metropolis 
where  the  landing  is  about  to  be  made.  The  town  is  now  un 
dergoing  a  renaissance ;  the  residences  of  yesterday  are  beau- 


Recollections  of  Pioneer  and  Army  Life.  45 

tiful,  and  as  the  years  file  away  it  will  become  more  and  more 
a  desirable  place  of  residence.  The  public  schools  are  good, 
the  locality  extremely  healthful,  and  markedly  picturesque,  in 
the  combination  of  bluffs  and  flowing  water.  There  are  strong- 
flowing  mineral  springs  (the  Rezner  and  MeKemson)  in  the 
hills,  within  an  hour's  drive  of  the  landing,  which  would  be 
an  attraction  to  visitors  if  properly  exploited.  I  hope  to  see 
these  springs,  and  others  in  my  native  county,  surrounded  by 
cottages,  and  the  Mississippi  bridged  at  the  Yellow  Banks  for 
a  traction  system,  supplying  direct  communication  with  Mt. 
Pleasant  and  other  prosperous  towns  west  of  the  river. 

My  earliest  familiarity  with  the  river,  at  seven  years  of 
age,  afforded  glimpses  of  the  old  slavery  days,  at  the  Yellow 
Banks,  outside  of  the  slaveholders'  jurisdiction.  With  his 
usual  arrogance,  he  did  not  scruple  to  violate  a  constitution  of 
whose  provisions  he  considered  himself  the  heaven-ordained 
custodian.  Some  of  these  gentlemen,  residents  of  St.  Louis, 
were  not  cotton-  nor  tobacco-growers,  nor  tillers  of  the  soil 
by  slave  labor  in  any  sense.  They  were  gentlemen  of  leisure, 
who  sold  the  labor  of  their  slaves  to  the  officers  or  owners  of 
steamboats,  where  it  was  employed  on  the  deck.  All  grain  was 
sacked  for  shipment,  and  I  have  a  vivid  recollection  of  the 
loading  of  large  steamers,  winged  with  great  barges,  one  on 
each  side  of  her.  On  a  hot  summer  day,  or  in  the  early  fall, 
the  warehouse  was  set  wide  open,  revealing  the  sacked  grain 
in  tiers  piled  to  the  roof ;  wheat  in  cotton  sacks ;  corn  in  bur 
laps  or  "gunnies."  Double  stages  reached  from  the  ground 
to,  the  deck  of  the  steamer  and  also  to  the  warehouse's  double- 
entrance,  affording  room  for  a  long  file  of  deck-hands  (black 
as  the  ace  of  spades  most  of  them)  to  file  down  on  one  side, 
each  with  a  bag  of  grain  on  his  shoulder,  and  a  similar  file  to 
return  empty  on  the  other  side,  an  endless  chain.  These  deck 
hands  (some  of  them,  at  times  the  majority  of  them,  slaves) 
went  at  a  trot,  hatless,  with  an  empty  bag  drawn  like  a  priest's 
caul  over  the  head.  The  ideal  mate  (there  were  two  of  them, 
first  and  second)  was  a  survival  of  the  fittest,  and  was  chosen 


46  Recollections  of  Pioneer  and  Army  Life. 

for  that  reason — because  he  was  a  brute,  big  and  burly,  with 
a  voice  like  a  fog  horn,  and  who  would  not  hesitate  to  take 
a  stick  of  cord-wood  and  brain  the  wretch  that  crossed  him. 
There  was  often  great  rivalry  between  these  freighters.  As 
fully  as  possible  the  steamer  going  up  engaged  the  cargo  for 
the  trip  down,  but  there  were  odd  lots  of  freight  to  be  picked 
up  in  considerable  quantity  and  the  passenger  traffic  to  look 
after,  and  the  boat  that  could  lead  her  rival  by  a  few  hours 
or  a  day  was  in  luck.  Under  the  circumstances,  the  brutality 
of  the  mate  was  apt  to  come  into  full  play.  I  have  seen  him 
with  the  "big  stick"  driving  his  herd  of  slaves  at  top  speed, 
the  perspiration  dripping  from  their  faces.  Before  we  had 
steel-rail  connections  with  New  York  a  large  foreign  immigra 
tion  landed  at  New  Orleans,  and  came  north  along  the  Mis 
sissippi — the  Germans  dropping  out  all  along  the  way,  in  large 
numbers  at  St.  Louis  and  in  constantly  lessening  numbers  as 
they  advanced  northward;  the  Scandinavians  doling  them 
selves  out  scantily  until  they  reached  the  upper  river,  discharg-, 
ing  en  masse  upon  the  soil  of  Wisconsin  and  Minnesota.  The 
arrival  at  our  landing  of  one  of  the  Northern-line  packets  of 
the  largest  size  with  double  barges  loaded  to  the  guards  with 
immigrants  and  merchandise  was  a  scene  to  rivet  the  atten 
tion  of  the  small  boy  no  less  than  that  of  his  elders.  From 
the  water-line  to  the  pilot-house  she  swarmed  with  life.  Sharp 
eyes  caught  her  large  size  two  miles  down  stream  and  when 
her  whistle  called  the  citizens  of  the  landing  to  attention,  an 
imposing  body  of  merchants,  idlers  and  small  boys,  under  the 
leadership  of  Jo  Hand,  the  steamboat  agent,  went  down  onto 
the  wharf  to  receive  the  new  arrival.  She  overwhelms  us  with 
interest  as  she  advances,  floating  in  majesty,  and  with  a  sense 
of  power.  A  railroad  train  strikes  to  the  heart  of  the  town, 
or  through  it  like  a  dirk ;  but  the  steamer  comes  before  you 
with  grace,  full  of  color,  like  milady  within  the  charmed  cir 
cle  of  foot-lights.  The  bell  sounds  and  the  captain  from  his 
coign  of  vantage  on  the  hurricane  deck  gives  a  quick  signal 
over  the  shoulder  to  the  pilot  in  his  handsome  conservatory  so 


Recollections  of  Pioneer  and  Army  Life.  47 

high  and  lifted  up,  and  which  the  small  boy  on  the  landing 
imagines  must  be  a  very  heaven  indeed.  The  engine  bells 
jingle  and  talk  back  to  the  pilot,  and  the  great  paddle-wheels 
reverse,  and  Leviathan  lays  his  nose  gently  upon  the  rocks  to 
doze  and  sleep  while  the  cargo  is  carried  ashore,  preceded  by 
the  clerk  of  the  steamer.  He  is  a  distinguished  personage. 
He  is  in  his  shirt-sleeves.  His  linen  is  three  X  fine.  From 
time  immemorial  it  has  been  correct  form  for  a  Mississippi 
River  steamboat  clerk  to  flash  upon  the  landing  in  his  shirt 
sleeves,  never  otherwise ;  but  those  sleeves !  And  the  fullness 
of  the  garment  of  which  they  were  a  part !  Only  the  angels 
would  feel  unabashed  in  its  presence.  On  this  spotless  front 
glittered  Kohinoor,  the  possession  only  of  kings  and  emperors 
and  steamboat  clerks.  He  has  under  his  arm  the  book  of 
records  whose  contents  correspond  to  the  bills  of  lading.  The 
small  boy  notes  the  fine  long  pencil  behind  his  ear,  which  is 
there  for  ornament  only,  as  he  has  another  for  use  in  his 
jeweled  hand.  He  exhales  the  aroma  of  Ind  as  he  settles 
with  metaphorical  outspread  wings  on  earth  before  the  steam 
boat  agent,  to  whom  he  offers  the  latest  St.  Louis  papers  (a 
week  old)  and  the  vouchers  according  to  which  the  freight  is 
checked  off  Close  at  hi;:-  heels,  on  the  run,  comes  a  caravan 
of  deck-hands  bearing  boxes  and  bags  and  rolling  barrels  and 
hogsheads  of  brown  sugar — two  men,  sometimes  four,  to  each 
of  them.  He  has  a  large  cargo  to  discharge,  for  in  addition 
to  the  quotns  for  our  own  merchants,  there  are  tons  of  grocer 
ies,  hardware,  wooden  and  willow  ware,  crates  of  crockery, 
dry  goods,  what  not.  for  the  country  stores  in  Monmouth, 
Greenbush,  Berwick,  Ellison  and  Stringtown.  He  plats  the 
space  along  the  wharf  for  each  of  these  consignments  and  long 
before  he  has  exhausted  his  tally  he  is  crowded  for  room. 
The  small  boy  is  awed  at  the  excellence  of  things  around  him. 
His  senses  are  keenly  alive  to  the  odors  of  sweet  and  precious 
things  that  rise  like  "incense  from  the  heavy-laden  steamer. 
The  round  globe  has  contributed  to  the  happiness  of  the  Yel 
low  Banks.  The  subtle  pungent  barks  and  seeds  from  the 


48  Recollections  of  Pioneer  ami  .tnny   Life. 

spicy  isles,  the  oranges  and  limes  from  the  languorous  South, 
nuts  from  Brazil,  sugars  from  "Belcher's  sugar-house"  and 
"New  Orleans"  molasses  from  Louisiana — and  the  "Tiger" 
State,  with  its  slaves  and  sugar  plantations,  seemed  more  re 
mote  to  the  small  boy  than  Spain  or  Italy,  both  of  which  were 
well  represented  in  the  cargo.  Think  of  the  anguish  he  endured 
when  the  figs  from  Smyrna  and  the  fine  layer  raisins  from 
Catalonia  were  laid  down  on  the  wharf — so  near,  and  yet  so 
far!  He  has  his  revenge.  He  got  all  the  boys  he  could  and 
all  the  shingles  he  could,  broke  the  latter  into  long  narrow 
scalpels  and  ran  them  into  the  knot-holes  in  the  ends  of  the 
hogsheads  of  sugar  and  brought  forth  nectar  for  the  gods ! 
He  ate  sugar  till  he  should  have  died  if  he  didn't.  Afar  off, 
piled  from  the  "Texas"  to  the  limit  of  the  hurricane  deck,  the 
light,  bulky  freight,  such  as  furniture,  rose  in  pyramids,  and 
at  the  fore,  suspended  by  block  and  tackle,  hung  the  new 
family  carriage,  or  a  farmer's  wagon  bright  from  the  shop. 
The  interesting  part  of  the  cargo  now  unloading  at  the 
Yellow  Banks  is  the  immigrants  and  the  cabin  passengers. 
The  steamer  is  crowded  with  both  classes.  The  old  country 
people,  in  wooden  shoes  and  queer  headgear,  swarming  over 
the  steerage  and  barges  with  their  hard-wood,  iron-bound 
trunks  built  during  the  reigns  of  the  Great  Frederick  or 
Gustavus  Adolphus,  and  which  can  now  be  found  in  use  all 
through  Wisconsin  and  Minnesota  as  shed  kitchens  and  silos. 
There  was  an  interchange  of  curiosity  and  comment  between 
the  loungers  on  the  wharf  and  the  cabin  passengers,  noticeably 
between  the  young  bloods  of  the  town  and  the  fair  travelers 
clustered  along  the  railing  of  the  ladies'  cabin.  As  the  delay 
promised  to  be  considerable,  many  of  these  came  ashore  and 
studied  the  architecture  of  our  temple  of  Justice,  with  its  Cor 
inthian  columns,  which  aspired  to  rank  with  the  fallen  glory  of 
Baalbec.  Some  of  them  were  tempted  to  see  Moir  Brothers 
manufacturing  high  wines,  and  found  their  way  with  diffi 
culty  among  the  saw-mills,  and  the  lumber  piled  high  around, 


Recollections  of  Pioneer  and  Army  Life.  49 

and  celebrated  their  return  to  the  steamer  by  regaling  them 
selves  with  confections  from  Chickering's  "Yankee  Notions." 
I  have  spoken  of  Belshazzar's  feast  elsewhere,  but  the  real 
thing  was  served  a  la  carte  at  12  o'clock  noon  of  each  day  on 
board  these  great  steamers  in  the  good  old  days.  None  of 
your  pale  Pecksniffian  coffee,  but  the  stout  black  Turk,  and 
plenty  of  it;  meats  and  roasted  birds  and  puddings — but  I  do 
not  care  to  be  set  down  as  lax  in  strict  veracity.  Solomon  had 
wives  enough  to  turn  out  a  fair  quality  of  hash  and  enough  to 
go  around,  but  he  'd  pale  his  ineffectual  kitchen  fires,  once  he 
got  a  glimpse  of  the  saloon  of  a  Mississippi  steamer  in  white 
and  gold,  the  glittering  chandeliers,  and  the  colored  waiters 
and  the  swell  people  on  the  right  and  left  of  the  captain  at  the 
dinner  hour ! 


CHAPTER  IX. 


MY  BOYHOOD  AT  THE  YELLOW  BANKS. 

Idle  "skiffs"  were  plentiful  along  the  river  shore,  some  of 
them  fastened  with  lock  and  key,  others  drawn  half  length 
ashore  and  not  tied.  One  day  Will  Henderson  (  a  lad  of  my 
own  age,  long  dead,  poor  fellow!)  and  I  got  hold  of  one  of 
these  free-for-all  row-boats,  and  by  dint  of  a  long  struggle  got 
it  launched.  There  were  no  oars  and  we  could  not  have  used 
them  if  there  had  been.  After  a  search,  I  found  some  pieces 
of  rotten  string  on  the  wharf,  with  which  I  tied  the  boaftoi  a 
stake.  Will  sat  in  the  stern  and  occupied  himself1  as  first 
cabin  passenger.  The  string  would  allow  the  boat  to  float 
out  a  few  feet  into  the  current,  and  with  a  stick  I  propelled  our 
craft  from  the  shore  to  the  limit  of  the  string  a  number  of 
times.  Each  successful  trip  made  the  navigator  more  bold  and 
stirred  him  to  greater  enterprises,  and  the  last  passage  out  I 
gave  her  a  shove  that  broke  the  string  and  sent  her  out  into 
the  stream,  and  in  mv  fright  I  jumped,  landing  knee-deep  in 
the  water,  and  that  sent  the  boat  far  out  on  the  current!  Will, 
in  his  excitement,  got  to  the  bow  and  clambered  over,  clinging 
to  the  gunwale,  his  body  suspended  in  the  water.  I  was  in 
momentary  expectation  that  he  would  let  go  and  drown.  Ev 
ery  moment  the  current  was  carrying  him  farther  out  and 
down  stream.  He  had  drifted  a  hundred  yards  from  the  start 
ing-point  before  some  workmen  along  the  shore  discovered 
him,  and  soon  there  was  a  half-dozen  men  calling  to  the  bov 
to  hold  on,  and  it  took  a  very  few  minutes  only  to  get  another 
boat  and  bring  him  ashore.  T  thought  I  would  be  punished 
for  this  affair,  but  I  heard  no  more  about  it.  Poor  Will.  T 
fear,  did  not  fare  so  well.  The  boys  learned  to  swim  at  a 

50 


Recollections  of  Pioneer  and  Army  Life.  51 

tender  age  by  playing  hookey  to  get  into  the  water,  and  I 
learned  the  manly  art  by  getting  into  a  hole  one  day,  and  I 
was  so  frightened  because  I  could  not  touch  bottom  that  I 
struck  out  and  landed  without  difficulty.  Ever  afterward  for 
me  to  swim  was  no  trick  at  all. 

I  grieve  to  add  that  I  went  to  war  almost  at  daybreak. 
There  are  few  boys  that  escape  it.  There  were  the  King  boys 
— the  blacksmith's  sons.  They  dug  a  hole  in  the  ground  for 
a  play-house,  a  fireplace  therein,  and  a  cupboard — dishes  and 
so  forth  disposed  around.  I  made  a  friendly  call ;  but  they  had 
just  set  up  housekeeping  that  morning,  and  were  not  "at  home" 
to  their  friends,  nor  to  their  enemies  either,  and  proceeded  to 
prove  it  by  both  of  them  jumping  onto  me.  I  was  surprised 
at  their  lack  of  hospitality,  and  I  rose  up  something  like  Samp 
son  when  he  grasped  the  pillars  of  the  temple  and  brought  it 
down,  roof  and  all,  upon  the  heads  of  his  persecutors,  and  the 
dishes  flew  like  the  sparks  from  a  Fourth  of  July  whirligig, 
the  cupboard  turned  a  handspring,  and  the  house  caved  in.  I 
don't  know  whether  anybody  got  licked  or  not.  To  the  best 
of  my  recollection,  I  got  out  whole;  but  Mrs.  Carmichael,  who 
was  passing  at  the  moment,  had  a  good'  laugh  at  us. 

Coming  home  from  school  one  day  at  noon,  I  met  my  foe 
in  the  alley.  We  were  of  the  same  age  and  size.  I  do  not 
remember  what  it  was  about ;  anyway,  at  the  first  cross-fire 
we  grappled.  He  had  long  hair,  which  was  a  decided  advan 
tage  to  me.  In  the  struggle  I  got  two  full  hands  in  the  wool 
and  I  was  slowly  pulling  his  head  down  into  chancery  when 
his  father  came  yelling  at  the  top  of  his  voice,  as  I  supposed 
to  jump  onto  me,  and  I  cleared  that  battle-field  at  a  bound ! 
T  met  the  gladiator  often  afterward,  but  he  seemed  not  to  want 
any  more  of  it  and  I  was  content  to  let  him  alone. 

At  the  old  Fryrear  house  we  had  a  circus.  Charley 
Cowan,  Jr.,  was  the  general  manager  and  clown.  He  appoint 
ed  me  ring-master  and  gave  me  a  small  cowhide  riding-whip 
with  which  to  encourage  the  "horses"  and  performers.  The 
grand  entry  had  been  made  and  the  three-ringed  show  was  in 


52  Recollections  of  Pioneer  and  Army  Life. 

full  swing,  with  the  clown  winning  bursts  of  applause  by  his 
acrobatic  feats  and  Shakespearean  jests.  Now  this  star  pro 
tege  of  Dan  Rice  was  clothed  in  delicate  gingham  knicker 
bockers,  and  at  a  moment  when  the  beauty  and  fashion  on 
the  upper  tiers  were  in  a  cataclysm  of  delight  over  his  jokes, 
he  stooped,  with  his  head  down  and  his  hands  on  the  floor, 
and  the  ring-master,  quick  to  see  his  opportunity,  came  down 
on  the  clown's  ''full  moon"  with  a  thwack  of  that  raw-hide 
that  made  the  veteran  of  the  sawdust  ring  jump  about  ten 
feet  and  flush  painfully  in  the  presence  of  the  ladies.  I  fear 
but  for  the  presence  of  our  sweethearts  on  that  occasion  the 
ring-master  would  have  suffered  affliction,  for  the  noble  jester 
was  much  the  older  and  stronger  of  the  two.  These  were  the 
days  when  Uncle  Sam  was  waging  war  with  Mexico  and  the 
boys'  sports  all  took  the  military  form.  Through  the  sandburrs 
and  stinkweeds  of  the  suburbs  our  campaigns  were  conducted. 
The  forces  were  divided  as  nearly  equal  as  possible  into  two 
armies.  One  of  these  had  its  headquarters  at  the  Fryrear 
house  aforesaid  and  the  other  in  the  unfinished  brick  school- 
house  not  far  away.  The  armies  met  in  battle's  stern  array 
on  the  sandy  plain  between.  We  secured  a  modern  equip 
ment  of  arms  at  the  lumber-yards,  where  the  bunches  of  lath 
and  shingles  suffered  marked  depletion  on  account  of  our  re 
quisitions.  From  this  raw  material  we  constructed  muskets, 
swords,  and  some  of  the  most  savage-looking  dagers  known 
to  warfare.  At  a  given  signal  the  armies  emerged  from  their 
fortifications — the  captains,  the  horses  and  the  banners !  Con 
trary  to  ordinary  usage,  the  captains  did  not  loaf  in  the  rear, 
under  a  tree,  smoking  a  cheroot,  while  the  trash  mixed  for 
victory  or  death.  They  went  to  the  front,  and  with  a  drawn 
dagger,  four  feet  long,  dared  Alexander  the  Great  to  come  on ! 
The  result  was  that  in  a  cloud  of  dust  or  sand  that  obscured 
the  battle-field  there  was  a  sort  of  military  dissolving  view  in 
which  the  non-combatant  could  get  a  glimpse  at  times  of  a 
mass  of  bare  heels  in  the  air  and  noses  in  the  sand,  with  guns 
and  swords  and  bayonets  writhing  and  squirming  to  secure  a 


Recollections  of  Pioneer  and  Army  Life.  53 

decisive  stroke.  At  times  it  would  appear  that  twenty-seven 
veterans  were  heaped  upon  one  poor  fellow,  who  still  had  life 
in  him  and  was  yelling  defiance  and  striking  fiercely  at  his 
foes  with  a  deadly  weapon  in  each  hand.  As  a  rule,  both  arm 
ies  were  slaughtered  to  a  man ;  the  field  being  strewn  with  the 
slain,  who  rose  up  at  dinner-time,  when  they  proved  that  the 
next  best  thing  to  fighting  was  to  devour  the  rations. 

At  the  close  of  the  Mexican  War  I  found  that  I  was  a 
radical,  if  not  an  offensive,  partisan.  General  Zack  Taylor 
was  my  father's  candidate  for  President.  Forthwith  I  dis 
covered  that  I  was  a  Free-soiler — whatever  that  was,  and  had 
never  been  anything  else,  and  when  election  day  came,  I  ran 
barefooted  around  and  around  the  old  temple  of  Justice  where 
the  ballots  were  being  deposited,  yelling  myself  hoarse  for  old 
Zack,,  and  singing  the  campaign  couplet: 

"And  he  had  an  old  'Whitey'  and  he  rode  him  very  fast, 

Because  he  was  a  ten-mile  nag ; 
And  he  answered  back  to  Van  Buren  and  Cass, 
'A  little  more  grape,  Captain  Bragg !'  " 

When  President  Taylor  died,  all  of  "us  Free-soilers"  nearly 
died  too,  for  we  loved  that  old  man ! 

I  was  pleased  to  accompany  my  father  in  his  drives,  on 
mingled  business  and  pleasure :  out  to  the  farm,  over  to 
Uncle  Calvin's,  and  on  to  Uncle  John's — a  grand-uncle,  who 
differed  from  all  of  the  Jamisons  whom  I  have  ever  seen.  He 
was  trimmer  built  and  finer  boned ;  a  handsome  man,  I  am 
sure,  when  he  went  "sparking"  among  the  belles  of  Kentucky ; 
full  of  the  milk  of  human  kindness  and  in  his  old  age  childlike 
in  his  fondness  for  his  kin.  Like  the  folks  at  Grigsby's  Station, 
he  was  "so  happy  and  so  poor,"  for  he  was  no  money-maker; 
and  when  we  drove  up  to  his  doorway,  enclosed  by  a  two-  or 
three-rail  fence,  like  himself  decrepit  with  age,  he  would  lead 
us  around  and  point  out  along  the  distant  groves  the  spots 
where  all  the  kin  lived,  with  the  simplicity  and  eagerness  of 
one  showing  something  new.  Poor  old  man !  with  his  shaggy 


54  Recollections  of  Pioneer  and  Army  Life. 

eyebrows  white  as  wool;  he  has  gone  where  the  mists  of  the 
morning  have  gone — swallowed  up  by  the  universal  light  in 
which  we  shall  all  be  merged  at  last.  He  lived  the  typical 
simple  life  of  the  pioneer,  in  marked  contrast  to  my  father, 
who  at  that  time  was  in  his  prime,  restless  and  ambitious.  In 
a  sense  they  were  far  apart,  yet  full  of  that  love  for  each  other 
which  had  run  in  commingled  blood  for  generations. 

And  then  again  we  were  driving  along  Cedar  Creek,  where 
herds  of  deer  would  cross  the  road  ahead  of  us,  single  file, 
and  hop  leisurely  over  a  low  rail  fence  into  a  corn-field.  The 
dense  woods  along  this  stream  was  a  favorite  haunt  of  wild 
turkeys  and  "varmints"  of  different  kinds.  At  a  turn  in  the 
road  an  opossum  exploited  his  tail  and  his  person  along  a  limb 
overhanging  the  water.  This  gave  my  father  his  opportunity. 
He  asked  me  to  spell  'possum.  I  spelled  it  correctly  as  he 
pronounced  it;  but  he  declined  the  civility.  I  noticed  at  an 
early  stage  in  this  mortal  life  that  if  one  confidently  (a  good 
deal  depends  upon  the  amount  of  "bluff"  you  put  into  it) 
raises  a  doubt,  it  will  almost  certainly  breed  another ;  so  I  fol 
lowed  up  my  stunt  by  omitting  one  ^ — "posum" ;  but  I  felt 
right  away  that  this  was  a  reflection  on  the  gentleman  with 
the  elongated  tail  out  on  the  limb  on  our  left.  All  I  knew 
about  him  I  had  picked  up  in  conversation  and  I  spelled  by 
sound,  for  I  had  not  as  yet  met  with  an  account  of  him  in  my 
speller  and  reader  at  school.  Albeit  I  found  I  was  sinking  in 
the  syllabic  mire,  but  before  I  stuck  in  the  muddy  bottom  I 
returned  to  the  double  j.  "No,  sir!"  came  more  emphatically 
than  before.  I  was  not  aware  that  his  Prehensile  Excellency 
had  his  origin  in  Ireland  and  I  expired  without  an  O  ! 

Frontier  life  in  Henderson  County  was  marked  by  all  the 
characteristics  common  to  newly  organized  communities.  The 
Methodist  camp-meeting  was  one  of  the  diversions  peculiar  to 
the  time.  "The  groves  were  God's  first  temples."  Under  every 
green  tree  and  on  every  mountain-top  the  pagan  worshiped 
his  idols  before  the  Christian  era.  The  worship  of  the  true 
God  followed  under  like  conditions  and  the  camp-meeting  was 


Recollections  of  Pioneer  and  Army  Life.  55 

the  final  development  of  outdoor  devotion.  The  saints  took 
these  meetings  seriously ;  pitched  the  tabernacle  in  the  wilder 
ness  ;  erected  booths ;  provided  rations ;  and  made  a  direct  as 
sault  on  the  world,  the  flesh  and  the  devil.  His  majesty  never 
shirked  the  challenge,  but  met  Gideon  and  his  band  boldly,  and 
it  took  more  than  a  ram's  horn  and  a  perforated  tin  lantern 
to  scare  him  off !  At  the  first  blare  of  the  preacher's  horn,  the 
foe  tapped  a  whiskey-barrel  under  the  guise  of  cider  and  sup 
plied  the  scoffers  who  mingled  with  the  crowd;  the  livery- 
stables  established  quick  round  trips  and  did  a  land  office  bus 
iness,  and  there  were  other  traffickers  with  an  eye  to  the  main 
chance.  Once  in  a  while  a  brand  was  snatched  from  the  burn 
ing,  and  he  was  wept  and  exulted  over  alternately;  and  Fash 
ion  came  as  in  later  times  and  hung  on  the  outskirts  of  the 
crowd  to  display  her  millinery.  The  camp-meeting  at  Ryer- 
son's,  in  the  old  Sugar  Camp,  at  the  foot  of  the  bluff  two  miles 
from  the  Yellow  Banks,  is  the  one  I  remember  best.  A  copious 
spring  flowed  out  from  the  rock  to  quench  the  thirst  of  the 
multitude.  Interest  centered  in  the  mourners'  bench.  Here 
the  pentitent  in  deep  abasement  grovelled  in  sack-cloth  and 
ashes  until  the  preacher,  in  Stentorian  tones,  declared  him  ab 
solved  from  any  further  allegiance  to  Satan,  or  the  attendant 
saint  whispered  in  his  ear  the  supreme  deliverance  from  the 
thralldom  of  sin.  There  was  jubilation.  The  bold,  bad  sin 
ner,  having  regained  his  freedom,  vented  his  joy  in  war-whoops 
or  wept  on  his  marrow-bones,  and  the  ransomed  sisters  went 
off  in  a  trance  or  figured  in  the  green-corn  dance.  Old-timers 
recall  one  of  the  WycKoffs  (a  hulking  country  bumpkin)  who 
on  a  time  got  religion  at  Ryerson's,  and  in  a  paroxysm  of  pious 
frenzy  and  self-importance  exclaimed :  "Nobody  knows  how 
much  I  knows !" 


CHAPTER  X. 


TEMPTATIONS  OF  THE  GREAT  RIVER. 

The  river  steamers  had  a  bar,  which  shone  with  the  efful 
gence  characteristic  of  Satan's  favorite  decoy,  the  cut-glass 
service  of  high  rank,  as  becomes  the  plate  in  use  by  "gentle 
men."  The  iced  cocktails  were  a  temptation  to  over-smart 
clerks  at  the  landings,  who  were  disposed  to  ''take  something" 
and  pay  for  it  with  coin  filched  from  the  employer's  till,  for 
I  am  pained  to  say  that  graft  was  noticeable  at  times  "before 
the  war,"  where  the  salary  was  incommensurate  with  the  vault 
ing  appetite !  and  there  were  other  temptations.  The  great 
river  gave  the  Yellow  Banks  connection  with  the  world-wide 
commercial  ganglia,  and  stirred  the  imaginations  of  youth  on 
its  shores  to  a  strong  desire  to  penetrate  the  Utopia  that  lay 
beyond  their  own  immediate  region.  Ed  Knowles  was  the 
first  of  our  enterprising  lads  to  make  the  venture.  He  would 
throw  the  "old  man"  off  the  trail  by  placing  a  suit  of  clothes 
— hat  and  all — on  the  raft  anchored  to  the  shore.  "When  the 
Judge  discovers  these,"  Ed  argued  to  himself,  "and  cannot  lo 
cate  the  owner  thereof,  he  will  infer  that  his  unfortunate  off 
spring  had  made  his  accustomed  plunge  from  the  spring-board 
to  rise  no  more !"  But  the  father  was  a  discerning  man,  and 
upon  examination  he  found  that  the  young  man  had  left  home 
in  his  best  clothes,  and  the  noble  father  ceased  to  mourn.  In 
a  few  brief  disastrous  moons  afterward,  Ed  was  discovered 
in  an  unwashed,  famished  condition,  sneaking  in  at  his  moth 
er's  back  door. 

John  McKinney.  Jr.,  a  youth  of  the  town,  verging  on 
manhood,  felt  that  he  could  improve  on  Ed  Knowles'  romance. 
He  had  given  the  matter  profound  thought  and  assured  him- 

.56 


Recollections  of  Pioneer  and  Army  Life.  57 

self  that  he  could  not  only  surprise  the  old  'Squire,  but  give 
the  town  the  worst  jolt  in  its  history.  Captain  James  Findley, 
an  old-time  steamboat  pilot,  who  had  a  long  and  distinguished 
career  in  the  wheel-house  on  the  lower  Mississippi,  was  the 
hero  who  stirred  the  youth  of  the  town  to  emulation.  They 
observed  the  marked  respect  with  which  he  was  welcomed 
when  he  returned  to  his  estate  near  the  Yellow  Banks  for  a 
brief  respite  from  his  labors.  They  were  speechless  at  the 
scintillations  of  the  gem  on  his  fourth  finger;  the  gold  wheel 
on  his  shirt-front,  the  emblem  of  his  guild;  his  air  of  a  man 
of  the  world.  In  this  renowned  Presence  all  the  glittering 
baubles  of  this  present  evil  world  were  as  nothing.  John  cut 
his  bridges  behind  him.  He  went  by  night  to  the  'Squire's 
strong  box  and  fortified  his  purse  with  a  roll  of  the  "shin- 
plasters"  of  the  period,  charged  himself  with  the  amount,  and 
took  French  leave  on  the  night  boat  going  down.  He  would 
a  pilot  be.  He  had  not  explored  the  great  world  further  than 
Burlington,  but  felt  in  his  heart  that  St.  Louis  and  New  Or 
leans  were  cities  of  mosques  and  minarets  whose  foundations 
were  jasper  and  whose  walls  were  sapphire.  On  the  landing  at 
the  Yellow  Banks  he  had  often  studied  the  pilot  at  the  wheel, 
pulling  the  signal-cords  and  whirling  the  helm  around  and 
back,  and  resting  his  foot  upon  it  when  the  noble  craft  stood 
to  sea  to  suit  him.  He  marked  the  smiling,  vivacious  daugh 
ters  of  the  South  at  his  side,  up  from  the  ladies'  cabin,  to  look 
the  Northland  over  from  the  pilot's  coign  of  vantage.  Ah ! 
what  would  the  youth  not  give  to  be  the  cynosure  of  such  a 
group  as  that?  He  could  and  he  would  be!  Right  now;  at 
once !  He  would  enter  the  lower  river  trade ;  experience  and 
training  and  a  close  study  of  the  treacherous  currents  would 
be  superfluous  labor  for  a  youth  from  the  Yellow  Banks  who 
had  spent  his  whole  mortal  existence  rowing  over  the  Father 
of  Waters.  He  knew  all  about  it.  Owners  of  steamboats 
would  trample  on  each  other  in  their  scramble  to  obtain  his 
services.  He  would  secure  a  five-years  contract  to  begin  with, 
provided  the  salary  met  his  expectations.  He  would  be  wary 


58  Recollections  of  Pioneer  and  Army  Life. 

as  to  salary  and  stern- wheel  steamboats.  "Nothing  but  the 
best,"  he  said.  "There  is  room  at  the  top,"  he  quoted.  St. 
Louis  was  something  of  a  disappointment  to  him.  There  was 
a  mile  of  steamboats  at  the  wharf,  mostly  stern-wheelers,  with 
here  and  there  a  three-decker,  cotton  craft,  the  most  of  them 
rather  uninviting.  As  he  stood  on  the  levee  a  friendless  youth 
— a  mere  speck  of  aimless  humanity  in  the  midst  of  drays, 
pounding  over  the  rocks  with  their  immense  loads,  the  odor 
of  perspiring  negro  deck-hands,  the  grime  of  world-wide  traffic 
in  the  ponderous,  pungent  things  of  commerce,  like  barreled 
salt,  old-time  heavy  sugars  in  hogsheads,  tierces  of  rice,  slabs 
of  greasy  pork  in  ton  lots,  molasses,  oakum,  tar,  pitch  and 
what  not,  his  elusive  dream  slipped  from  him  like  a  soap- 
bubble  in  the  hand  of  a  child,  and  without  warning  he  stood 
face  to  face  with  a  giant  mate  of  a  Northern-line  packet,  di 
recting  a  file  of  deck-hands  bearing  the  heavy  cable  to  make 
fast.  Taking  John  by  the  shoulder,  the  brute  growled,  "Git 
out  o'  yer !"  and  the  young  man  slunk  hurriedly  away,  when 
another  file  of  deck-hands  from  the  opposite  way  corralled  him 
with  another  cable,  which  tripped  him  in  his  headlong  flight 
and  sent  him  sprawling  into  the  smear  and  smell  of  the  slop 
ing,  smooth-worn  wharf.  He  went  down  to  the  water  and 
washed  his  hands  and  face  and  sought  the  sidewalk,  obstructed 
with  freight  along  the  front  of  the  seamy,  stained,  age-worn 
warehouses.  Disenchanted  and  not  knowing  what  better  to 
do,  he  went  down  and  boarded  a  swift  New  Orleans  packet. 
Having  ascended  to  the  clerk's  office  and  registered  for  his  des 
tination,  he  began  to  slip  bank-notes  from  the  diminishing  roll 
of  shinplasters.  "Bank  of  Nemaha,"  said  the  clerk ;  "we  don't 

take  that — it  ain't  worth  a  d -."     "Farmers'  and  Traders' 

Bank  of  St.  Joseph,"  and  the  clerk  turned  to  his  broad-leaved, 
thumb-worn  "detector."  and  ran  his  finger  down  the  column 
of  suspicious  fiat  money,  not  unlike  a  row  of  condemned  crim 
inals,  the  forehead  of  each  branded  with  the  number  of  years 
discounted  from  a  checkered  career.  The  logarithm  "20"  was 
in  the  margin.  "Yes."  said  the  clerk,  "it  is  twenty  off,  but 


Recollections  of  Pioneer  and  Army  Life.  59 

that  ten-dollar  note  is  a  good  ways  from  home,  and  1  '11  allow 
you  fifty  cents  on  the  dollar  for  it."  John  weakened  at  every 
bluff.  He  despised  figures  anyway,  and  the  clerk  settled  the 
account  on  his  owrn  terms  Then  he  entered  the  number  of  the 
berth,  perched  right  over  the  wheelhouse,  and  known  in  the 
parlance  of  old  river  men  as  the  sanitarium  of  diseased  livers. 
The  boy,  having  no  baggage,  was  now  relieved  of  every  care 
and  took  a  seat  with  the  other  passengers,  on  the  focs'l  along 
the  railing,  and  looked  out  over  the  crowded,  boisterous  wharf 
and  the  steady  stream  of  deck-hands  going  and  coming.  He 
was  ill  at  ease.  There  was  an  undefined  brooding  at  the  heart ; 
a  sense  of  helpless  drifting  to  sea,  without  compass,  hope  or 
haven.  He  thought  of  home,  and  the  picture  of  the  old  'Squire 
and  his  rod,  and  the  short  shrift  he  used  to  get,  gave  him 
tranquil  pause  now  that  he  was  beyond  the  sweep  of  the 
paternal  arm.  At  this  thought  a  joy  unknown  before  elbowed 
the  mulligrubs  off  his  perturbed  spirit  and  he  came  to  him 
self.  He  took  heart ;  he  was  bound  for  the  land  of  eternal 
summer  !  He  rejoiced  at  the  prospect  of  seeing  Natchez-under- 
the-hill,  that  ancient  cavern  of  gamblers.  He  would  revel  in 
the  glances  of  the  French  Creoles  in  the  Crescent  City.  Under 
a  spell  of  returning  lunacy  in  due  time  he  was  landed  in  the 
great  sugar  and  cotton  mart  of  Louisiana,  and  a  brief  season 
of  shinning  along  the  back-doors  of  the  tuppenny  restaurants 
in  the  French  quarter,  where  silver  coin  was  the  recognized 
medium  of  exchange,  chilled  the  ardor  of  the  youth  with  his 
few  remaining  discredited  shinplasters.  He  was  treading  no\» 
a  precarious  path.  Silver  and  gold  he  had  none.  He  could 
not  feed  the  swine,  for  the  slave  did  every  menial  service.  He 
could  not  earn  a  wage  in  the  counting-room,  for  he  scorned 
the  schoolmaster  at  the  Yellow  Banks,  and  all  his  works. 
Ignorance  is  not  bliss.  Hunger  was  on  his  right  hand ;  the 
police  station  on  his  left.  With  a  feeling  of  deep  contrition, 
he  said :  "I  will  arise  and  go  to  my  father."  He  went  to  the 
captain  of  a  steamer,  who  by  good  fortune  had  served  in  the 
up-river  trade,  and  knew  all  the  shippers  at  the  Yellow  Banks. 


60  Recollections  of  Pioneer  and  Army  Life, 

Questioning  the  Prodigal,  he  said  to  him:  ''What  is  your 
weight?"  "One  hundred  and  twenty  pounds,"  said  John. 
"Charles,"  said  the  captain,  addressing  the  clerk,  busy  cast 
ing  his  accounts,  "make  out  a  bill  of  lading  for  this  young 
man  at  live-stock  rates,  consignee  John  McKinney,  Sr.,  Yellow 
Banks."  "You  will  be  transferred,"  continued  the  captain,  "to 
a  Northern-line  packet  at  St.  Louis,  and  may  the  Lord  have 
mercy  on  you !" 

John  McKinney,  Jr.,  was  a  creditable  soldier  during  the 
Civil  War ;  the  captain  of  a  company  in  the  94th  Ills.  Infantry. 
As  a  private  citizen  he  had  many  friends.  He  was  rated  as 
a  skillful  politician,  and  no  blemish  attaches  to  his  memory. 


CHAPTER  XL 


THE  YELLOW  BANKS. 

The  years  18401856,  inclusive,  the  Yellow  Banks  was  one 
of  the  important  markets  and  chief  distributing  points  on  the 
upper  Mississippi.  As  a  lumber  market  it  was  second  to  none 
of  the  up-river  landings.  My  father  exchanged  merchandise 
for  grain,  pork  and  other  farm  produce  from  points  as  remote 
as  fifty  miles,  and  the  widely  separated  settlers  in  the  area 
came  here  for  lumber  and  repairs  at  the  wagon  shops.  The 
country  stores  in  the  interior  received  their  stocks  of  goods 
at  this  landing.  Rankin,  of  Monmouth,  delivered  his  barreled 
pork  here  for  shipment,  and  the  travel  from  the  East  came  to 
this  point  on  the  river  by  stage-coach  via  Peoria,  Galesburg 
and  Monmouth.  A  very  considerable  part  of  the  population 
of  the  town  came  from  New  England.  The  old  Middle  West 
contributed  its  share — Ohio  chiefly;  and  South  Carolina, 
Georgia  and  Tennessee  contributed  heavily  of  Scotch-Irish 
Presbyterians  to  the  country  surrounding.  The  intelligence  at 
the  county  seat  was  above  the  average  for  a  frontier  town,  and 
the  public  schools  were  well  supported.  It  was  the  center  of 
amusements,  such  as  large  singing-school  classes,  the  cotillion, 
the  circus,  the  concert  troupes  and  the  vaudeville.  Dan  Rice 
was  here  in  the  early  forties ;  the  Hutchinson  family  of  con 
cert  singers,  the  Peck  family  of  Swiss  bell-ringers,  and  the 
Lombards,  who  came  down  to  and  included  the  Civil  War. 
The  old  Pioneer  House  was  the  scene  of  many  elaborate  and 
liberally  patronized  social  events,  and  the  fashions  of  the  pe 
riod  were  promptly  displayed  on  the  streets. 

One  of  the  characters  about  town  in   the  days  of  the 


62  Recollections  of  Pioneer  and  Army  Life. 

steamboats  "Clermont,"  "Iron  City"  and  "Uncle  Toby"  was  Al 
Kames,  who  had  the  genius  to  make  something  out  of  nothing. 
His  first  venture  was  to  saw  a  canoe  in  twain,  lengthwise,  and 
utilize  the  halves  for  the  sides  of  the  flat-bottomed  hull  of  his 
first  steamboat,  a  small  affair,  not  much  more  than  a  toy,  with 
a  steam  escape-pipe  not  much  larger  than  a  broomstick.  Back 
from  the  shore  two  or  three  rods  the  boat  was  hardly  visible 
to  the  pedestrian,  but  one  could  hear  its  feeble,  asthmatic 
cough  as  it  shunned  the  strong  current  and  hugged  the  shore. 
He  completed  the  engine  for  it  from  scraps  picked  out  01  the 
junk-pile.  It  was  a  stern-wheeler  of  approved  pattern.  After 
ward  he  built  a  larger  boat  with  a  double  hull,  equipped  with 
an  engine  of  the  same  sort  as  the  first,  but  the  paddle-wheel 
worked  on  a  shaft  between  the  hulls,  and  not  at  the  stern  as 
usual.  His  third  effort  was  the  construction  of  what  was 
known  as  the  "Tow-String"  saw-mill.  It  was  a  creditable 
work — a  practical  mill  of  its  kind,  that  turned  out  thousands 
of  feet  of  lumber,  and  turned  in  good  revenue  to  its  owners, 
and  the  digestive  apparatus,  as  heretofore  was  pieced  up  from 
the  scrap-pile — castaway  pieces  of  machinery  and  engines  which 
men  of  less  skill  counted  as  worthless.  It  was  said  that  when 
he  lacked  necessary  connecting  links  of  metal,  he  used  a  tow- 
string  to  supply  the  want.  Strong  drink  was  poor  old  Al's 
besetting  sin,  but  he  came  in  time  into  the  possession  of  a  good 
steamboat  and  made  considerable  money  towing  rafts  through 
Lake  Pepin,  which  was  a  profitable  business  in  the  old  days. 
Some  of  the  illustrious  and  not  a  few  of  the  infamous 
men  of  the  nineteenth  century  have  walked  the  streets  of  the 
Yellow  Banks.  April  27,  1832,  four  companies  of  miltia,  en 
listed  for  the  Black  Hawk  War.  began  the  overland  march 
from  Beardstown  for  the  Yellow  Banks.  A  part  of  them  were 
organized  at  Quincy  and  formed  a  junction  with  the  main 
body  near  Rushville.  O  H.  Browning,  later  United  States 
senator,  and  later  Secretary  of  the  Interior  under  Andrew 
Johnson,  was  a  private  in  the  Quincy  company,  and  squealed 
like  a,  pig  under  a  gate  at  being  exposed  in  camp  for  one  night 


Recollections  of  Pioneer  and  Army  Life.  63 

away  from  the  timber  and  water.  Abraham  Lincoln  com 
manded  one  of  the  companies,  and  in  referring  to  this  fact 
many  years  afterward  said:  "I  cannot  tell  you  how  much  it 
pleased  me  to  be  elected  captain  of  that  company."  The  troops 
followed  a  trail  which  led  them  past  the  site  of  Stronghurst, 
Olena  and  Gladstone.  The  spot  where  they  crossed  the  Hen 
derson  River,  is  not  known,  but  it  was  probably  below  the  con 
fluence  of  the  two  branches,  near  the  railroad  bridge,  where 
they  improvised  a  bridge  by  felling  trees  into  the  stream.  Here 
they  lost  one  or  two  horses  in  the  swollen  river.  Not  lacking 
in  the  picturesque,  this  body  of  frontiersmen  trailing  north 
along  the  sand-ridge  to  the  landing,  under  the  leadership  of 
the  great  Emancipator !  They  were  detained  in  camp  at  the 
Yellow  Banks  for  four  days,  awaiting  supplies  by  boat  from 
Rock  Island,  and  it  is  certain  that  Abraham  Lincoln  was  a 
compulsory  citizen  of  the  town  for  that  length  of  time.  Their 
camp  was  located  by  a  bayonet  found  years  afterward  sticking 
in  the  ground  with  a  piece  of  candle  in  the  shank !  This 
"candlestick"  I  used  as  a  plaything,  and  it  lay  around  my 
father's  house  for  many  years.  The  battalion  of  mounted 
men  marched  from  this  point  to  Dixon.  The  presence  of 
Abraham  Lincoln  at  the  head  of  his  company  in  camp  at  the 
Yellow  Banks  on  this  occasion  confers  a  distinction  upon  the 
town  which  should  be  acknowledged  by  the  citizens  with  a 
suitable  memorial  erected  on  the  spot  where  the  troopers 
camped.  A  "lost  rock"  (a  granite  boulder  of  the  glacial  period) 
with  a  suitable  inscription,  secured  from  desecration  and  or 
namented  by  shade  trees,  should  be  provided.  Now,  even 
now,  when  such  a  memorial  can  be  placed  at  small  expense, 
is  the  time  to  act ;  for  in  the  coming  days  of  a  new  and  ever- 
enlarging  growth  avarice  will  pay  little  heed  to  "the  better 
angels  of  our  nature." 

During  the  Indian  campaign  the  following  historical  char 
acters,  then  young  men,  officers  of  the  line  in  the  regular  Army, 
appeared  at  this  landing,  and  doubtless  were  ashore  more  or 
less  during  the  discharge  of  cargo:  Jefferson  Davis,  General 


64  Recollections  of  Pioneer  and  Army  Life. 

Harney,  David  E.  Twiggs,  Albert  Sidney  Johnston,  Robert 
Anderson  (of  Fort  Sumter  fame),  General  Joe  Johnston,  and 
many  others. 

Some  of  the  celebrities  of  the  campaigns  of  the  Mexican 
War  enjoyed  the  hospitality  of  our  citizens.  Among  them, 
I  have  special  reasons  for  recalling  General  James  Shields, 
who  was  billed  to  fight  a  duel  with  Abraham  Lincoln.  My 
playmates  had  their  views  of  all  the  incidents  of  the  Mexican 
War.  We  got  these  from  the  veterans  of  the  service  or  by 
reading  them  in  Colonel  Patterson's  Spectator.  In  talking 
them  over  we  drew  wrcng  inferences  from  some  statements 
and  unconsciously  embellished  others.  As  a  matter  of  fact, 
we  knew  that  General  Shields  had  been  shot  through  the 
breast,  and  in  some  way  we  got  the  impression  that  as  the 
combat  deepened  the  doughty  warrior  disdained  to  have  his 
wound  dressed,  but  stopped  long  enough  in  the  saddle  to  draw 
a  silk  handkerchief  through  his  body  along  the  channel  of  the 
wound  and  kept  right  on  carving  "Greasers"  right  and  left 
with  his  reeking  sabre !  When  we  discovered  that  General 
Shields  in  his  own  proper  and  distinguished  person  had  ar 
rived  at  the  Yellow  Banks,  our  imaginations  glowed  like  a 
prairie  fire.  We  resolved  to  feast  our  eyes  upon  him  as  upon  the 
supernatural !  We  believed  with  gospel  sincerity  that  the  silk 
handkerchief  (the  big  red  bandanna  was  the  vogue  in  those 
clays)  still  illuminated  his  mortal  remains,  that  the  flow  of 
blood  was  still  unquenched,  and  we  were  determined  to  see  a 
real  soldier  in  that  condition.  The  great  man,  fresh  from  the 
field  of  his  fame,  was  announced  to  address  the  citizens  in  the 
court-room  on  a  given  evening,  and  this  was  the  opportunity 
for  the  bare-footed  boy.  The  general  had  already  entered 
upon  his  address  to  a  full  house  when  I  ran  up  the  stairway 
and  stuck  my  head  in  at  the  door  to  see  the  wonderful,  soul- 
harrowing  sight !  I  suppose  the  English  language  never  was 
more  impotently  inadequate  to  the  portrayal  of  a  boy's  amaze 
ment  and  disappointment  than  at  this  precise  moment.  I 
craned  my  neck  around  the  door-jamb,  and  there  stood  a  plain 


Recollections  of  Pioneer  and  Army  Life.  65 

little  man  in  perfect  health  and  a  swallow-tail  coat,  talking  to 
the  crowd !  1  pulled  my  head  back  out  of  sight  a  moment  and 
took  a  gulp  or  two  at  my  Adam's  apple,  feeling  awful  cheap. 
However,  as  no  one  seemed  to  be  aware  of  the  contretemps,  I 
made  bold  and  took  a  back  seat  to  hear  something  about  the 
Constitution,  the  enlargement  of  our  national  boundary,  our 
glorious  free  institutions,  and  other  stereotyped  matters  of  the 
kind. 


CHAPTER  XII. 


"GOLD!  GOLD!  FROM   SACRAMENTO  RIVER!" 

The  Argonauts  of  1849  followed  hard  upon  the  election 
of  Taylor  to  the  Presidency.  The  gold  fever  affected  multi 
plied  thousands  and  sent  its  lessening  warmth  to  the  uttermost 
corners  of  the  earth.  The  Yellow  Banks  was  the  center  of 
preparation  for  a  wide  region.  Impecunious  men  foresaw  an 
opportunity  to  get  rich  quick.  The  conservative  element  in 
the  community  smiled  at  the  ebullition  around  them  and  kept 
on  plodding,  content  with  small  but  steady  gains.  Attractive 
nuggets  had  already  found  their  way  from  "the  diggin's"  to 
the  Yellow  Banks.  I  have  a  distinct  recollection  of  some  of 
these,  displayed  in  my  father's  store.  They  showed  plainly 
that  they  had  once  been  in  the  molten  state;  of  the  valtK  of 
$20.00,  some  of  them — enough  indeed  to  fire  the  imaginations 
of  men !  Interested  parties  who  could  not  go  sent  proxies ; 
that  is  to  say,  provided  a  young  man  of  brawn  with  a  grub 
stake  and  sent  him  forth  to  try  his  luck.  Men  gambled  on  the 
discovery  in  all  sorts  of  ways,  and  took  all  the  desperate 
chances,  as  men  have  done  and  will  ever  do — all  for  gold ! 
That  magic  word  has  thrown  a  glamour  over  the  Stafe  of 
California  that  has  lured  scores  of  men  to  a  tragic  fate,  and 
many  thousands  to  disapnointment. 

Mr.  Hart's  blacksmith-shop  was  the  headquarters  for 
shoeing  the  animals  for  the  overland  trip.  It  was  equipped 
with  gearing  for  shoeing  the  ox-teams  and  the  work  went 
merrily  on.  George  Muck's  wagon  shop,  George  Sloan's  and 
Blackhart's  were  all  busy  in  the  repair  or  construction  of 
wagons  and  in  shoeing  the  animals.  At  the  warehouses  the 
wagons  were  loaded  with  provisions.  At  Blackhart's  shop  T 

60 


Recollections  of  Pioneer  and  Army  Life.  67 

was  a  curious  observer  of  Aleck  Henderson's  vehicle,  with 
which  he  was  to  make  the  long  journey  across  the  mountain 
ranges  to  the  Pacific  Coast.  It  was  not  larger  than  an  ordi 
nary  grocer's  delivery-wagon  and  seemed  to  my  boyish  eyes 
a  very  frail  craft,  by  comparison,  for  such  a  trip,  which  in 
deed  it  was.  I  can  see  them  now,  more  than  sixty  years  after 
the  event,  bringing  the  lines  taut  over  the  horse  teams  and 
swinging  the  gad  over  the  oxen  as  they  pulle:!  out  upon  the 
street  to  take  the  trail,  marked  all  the  way  along  by  sickness, 
hunger  and  death.  Some  got  away  furtively,  feeling  that  they 
had  undertaken  a  big  job !  I  recall  perfectly  a  modest  train 
passing  along  the  street  bound  for  the  new  Eldorado:  Mr. 
Roberts,  the  principal,  following  along  behind,  his  poor  wife 
in  tears,  trailing  after  her  husband,  unwilling  to  part  with 
him !  The  children  in  the  street — the  neighbors  all — were  in 
deep  sympathy  with  her  Put  after  all.  there  was  a  strong 
hope  and  a  just  in  the  hearts  of  these  men.  There  was  no 
doubt  no  longer  as  to  the  precious  metal  being  there  in  quanti 
ties.  The  tide  westward  had  already  set  in  and  was  irresist 
ible.  There  was  Sammy  Snook,  the  hunchback  liquor-dealer 
on  Water  Street.  His  neighbors  lifted  their  brows  in  amaze 
ment  when  it  was  told  around  town  that  Sam  was  going  to 
"the  diggin's."  If  he  was  stopped  in  the  street,  taken  to  one 
side,  and  cross-questioned  on  the  momentous  theme  by  one  of 
his  confidential  friends,  Sam  would  smile  blandly  in  the  face 
of  his  interlocutor  and  reply  with  the  couplet  on  the  lips  of 
all  the  boys  on  the  street  in  those  days: 

"It  rained  all  night  the  day  I  left, 

The  weather  it  was  dry; 

The  sun  so  hot  I  froze  to  death. 

Susanna,  don't  you  cry !" 

On  the  journey  out  Sam  was  in  hard  luck,  but  he  got 
safely  through,  and  the  next  year,  on  the  Isthmus,  on  his  way 
home,  he  was  much  "jollied"  by  Wils.  Graham  on  his  success 
in  making  the  round  trip.  Glancing  out  of  the  corner  of  his 


68  Recollections  of  Pioneer  and  Army  Life. 

eye,  Sam  would  answer  with  the  gag  which  had  been  a  by 
word  with  him  all  his  life:  "Catch  a  weasel  asleep,  will  ye?" 

All  the  phases  of  human  nature  shone  forth  in  sharp  con 
trast  on  the  journey.  Personal  and  property  disputes  arose 
with  aggravating  frequency,  and  when  the  parties  were  in  the 
neighborhood  of  a  military  post  the  matters  in  controversy 
were  submitted  to  the  officers  in  command,  whose  award  was 
accepted  with  more  or  less  grace.  Footsore  auimals  crippled 
the  trains  and  added  to  the  emergency  problems  to  be  solved. 
A  crisis  arose  when  life-long  neighbors  quarreled,  and  a  solu 
tion  in  equity  was  arrived  at  by  sawing  the  vehicle  in  twain 
and  dividing  the  provisions  and  draft  animals,  one  party  driv 
ing  off  with  the  fore-wheels  of  the  wagon,  the  other  with  the 
hind-wheels.  In  desert  lands  the  ox  and  other  teams  gave  out, 
the  provisions. were  piled  upon  the  desolate  trail  and  the  men 
with  grub  on,  their  backs  pushed  on  for  succor,  and  if  Fortune 
favored,  returned  and  gathered  up  what  they  had  left  behind. 
Some  of  our  Henderson  County  men,  reduced  to  the  last  ex 
tremity,  made  up  the  remaining  moiety  of  flout  into  biscuits, 
gave  each  man  his  share  (a  beggarly  portion)  and  climbed 
the  icy  altitudes  of  the  Sierra  Nevada  Range  in  hunger  and 
privation.  Rumors  of  these  hardships  drifted  back  home,  and 
the  boys  of  my  own  ago  had  a  tale  which  passed  current  in 
our  school  circle  of  Sammy  Snook,  who  in  a  strait  betwixt 
two,  out  on  the  Snake  River,  took  refuge  in  the  carcass  of  a 
disemboweled  mule,  where  he  lived  comfortably  and  regaled 
himself  as  he  had  need  with  steaks  of  imitation  mutton  at  his 
hand ! 

Captain  John  McGaw,  Alex.  P.  Nelson,  and  Sam  Plum- 
mer  were  among  the  adventurous  spirits  who  participated  in 
this  forlorn  hope.  They  were  typical  men  of  our  American 
frontier,  descendants  of  the  hardy  pioneers  of  our  earlier  his 
tory.  Nelson's  father  Wcis  one  of  ihe  American  volunteers  sur 
rendered  by  Hull  to  the  British  on  Lake  Erie  in  1812.  The 
trio  named  stood  together  on  some  of  the  immemorial  heights 
of  the  Civil  War.  Sam  Plummer  (a  jovial,  sincere,  honest 


Recollections  of  Pioneer  and  Army  Life.  69 

man)  fell  in  the  bloody  encounter  on  Stone  River.  The  other 
two  were  with  the  beaten  right  wing  of  Rosecrans'  army  at 
Chickamauga.  Captain  McGaw  survived  many  notable  engage 
ments  in  defense  of  the  Union,  and  in  the  great  festivals  and 
solemn  assemblies  of  the  people  of  my  native  county  these 
American  volunteers  will  be  held  in  gratful  remembrance. 

All  of  our  Henderson  County  men  made  money  enough 
to  get  home  on,  which  :s  about  all  that  can  be  said  for  their 
trip  to  the  California  gold-field.  Porter  Nelson  boasted  of 
having  a  "quarter"  left !  On  a  sailing  vessel  bound  for  New 
York  from  the  Isthmus.  Captain  McGaw,  later  of  the  84th 
Ills.  Vols.,  suffered  shipwreck.  In  the  fierce  gale  that  was 
blowing,  a  friendly  vessel  stood  in  the  offing  to  help  them,  and 
was  in  the  act  of  sending  the  life-boat  to  take  the  passengers 
off.  High  seas  were  breaking  over  the  wreck,  which  was  hard 
fast  on  the  rocks,  and  no  time  was  to  be  lost.  The  officers  of 
the  endangered  vessel  had  prepared  numbered  slips  of  paper 
and  distributed  them  among  the  passengers,  who  were  to  form 
in  line  and  enter  the  life-boat,  at  each  successive  trip,  accord 
ing  to  their  number.  Captain  McGaw  for  a  minute  or  two  did 
not  look  at  his  slip,  for  fear  it  was  a  large  number;  but  he 
found  on  examination  (lucky  man)  that  he  held  preferred 
stock  in  Fortune's  bank.  He  was  one  in  the  only  boat-load  that 
was  saved ! 

By  and  by  a  day  came,  as  still  such  day.->  will  come,  to 
call  "doggery'^keepers,  as  well  as  sober  people,  ''home." 
Sammy  Snook  died,  and  his  friends  on  Water  Street  said  he 
must  have  a  funeral,  and  they  invited  Dr.  Campbell,  of  the 
Cumberland  church,  to  make  a  few  remarks  at  the  private 
obsequies.  The  kind  old  doctor  responded  favorably,  a^nd  dis 
charged  the  obligations  implied  in  the  emergency  act  to  the 
satisfaction  of  all  concerned  ;  but,  to  the  amazement  of  some  of 
the  hide-bound  burghers,  the  solid  globe  on  which  we  live  did 
not  collapse  on  account  of  the  observance  of  this  Christian 
duty. 


CHAPTER  XIII. 


THE  VILLAGE  BAKERY 

Deacon  Banner's  bake-shop  was  the  fond  attraction  of  the 
small  boy.  It  had  a  flavor  of  its  own  which  affected  me  mucn 
as  the  smell  of  grog  undermines  the  equilibrium  of  the  toper. 
The  odor  of  the  gingerbread  was  demoralizi.-ig.  Under  its 
spell  I  was  drawn  irresistibly  to  the  door  to  gaze  in  helpless 
rapture  on  the  squares  of  sweet  bread  when  I  had  not  a  cent 
in  my  pocket  and  no  expectation  of  ever  having  one.  Right 
there  in  full  view  the  good  deacon  had  a  heaven,  whose  bliss, 
for  the  lack  of  a  penny,  was  as  remote  and  inaccessible  to  me 
as  the  real  thing  may  prove,  alas !  for  many  of  .is  in  the  great 
day  later  on.  I  was  in  despair.  At  this  time  Jamison  & 
Moir  were  at  the  southwest  corner  of  Market  Square  in  line 
with  a  row  of  grain  warehouses.  In  the  same  row,  north, 
stood  the  deacon's  bakery  and  lunch  counter  aforesaid,  and 
on  further  north,  along  Water  Street,  on  both  sides,  were 
the  "doggeries,"  the  principal  one  and  the  most  celebrated 
Sam  Snook's,  the  hunchback.  At  the  extreme  north  end,  fac 
ing  east,  stood  the  principal  business  house  of  the  town  in 
the  earliest  time,  that  of  the  Phelps  Brothers.  McKinney  & 
Adams  had  a  general  merchandise  store  on  the  then  business 
outskirts — on  Schuyler  Street  as  it  existed,  mostly  on  the  town 
plat.  Trian  &  Day  had  a  similar  store  on  the  corner  of  Schuy 
ler  Stre.et  and  Market  Square.  There  were  other  minor  places 
of  business,  clustered  around  Colonel  Patterson's  printing  of 
fice,  the  brick  addition  to  which  stands  a  disfigured  relic  of 
the  past.  Deacon  Benner's  little  bake-shop  was  of  the  humblest 
origin,  but  there  was  a  man  behind  it !  In  the  northwest  cor- 

70 


Recollections  of  Pioneer  and  Army  Life.  71 

ner  of  the  small  business  room,  behind  a  bit  of  counter,  rested 
a  keg  of  spruce  beer  and  the  display  of  gingerbread.  On  the 
main  counter  and  shelves  were  luncheon  goods  with  such  un 
usual  neighbors  as  two  or  three  styles  of  plain  ribbon,  one  or 
more  patterns  of  calico,  and  a  suspicion  possibly  of  millinery; 
but  of  this  latter  I  cannot  make  oath — whatever  there  was,  it 
was  the  promise  of  things  not  seen.  The  family  occupied  the 
back  rooms.  The  daughters,  of  whom  there  were  three,  were 
the  main  attractions,  and  no  inconsiderable  ones  either !  The 
family  was  of  German  descent,  dexterous  in  the  use  of  English, 
but  with  a  noticeable  lisp.  They  were  "Pennsylvania  Dutch" 
probably,  or  Hessian.  They  were  Baptists,  and  the  good  dea 
con  stood  by  his  colors  nobly.  It  may  seem  a  bit  odd  even  for 
that  day  that  the  bake-shop  should  include  haberdashery  among 
the  articles  for  sale ;  but  thereby  hangs  a  tale.  The  deacon 
was  a  born  gentleman.  The  rogues  like  Ed  Ray  and  Brent 
Jones  made  a  butt  of  him ;  the  Yellow  Banks  "Four  Hundred" 
winked  at  their  jokes,  and  the  bad  boys  were  none  too  decent 
in  their  deportment  toward  the  girls,  who  were  regularly  at 
school  up  to  their  majority,  or  nearly  so.  The  current  fun  of 
a  frontier  town  is  of  the  broad  stripe;  the  kind  that  takes  so 
many  risks  that  it  sometimes  drops  its  molasses  jug,  to  use  a 
phrase  stolen  from  Uncle  Remus.  Deacon  Benner  had  just 
enough  of  the  German  lisp  in  his  speech  to  make  him  an  in 
teresting  character  when  allied  to  other  peculiarities  which 
lent  themselves  to  the  picturesque.  The  two  practical  jokers 
aforesaid  fastened  on  him  at  once.  Always  treating  him 
courteously,  or  seemingly  so;  but  ever  with  a  card  up  the 
sleeve.  Brent  Jones  was  a  printer,  and  it  was  no  surprise 
when  the  town  woke  up  one  morning  and  found  itself  in  the 
possession  of  this  bit  of  verse : 


72  Recollections  of  Pioneer  and  Army  Life. 

"Old  Deacon  Benner  of  our  town 
Is  now  a  man  of  great  renown; 
He  left  the  East  in  an  angry  mood — 

He  left  it  for  his  country's  good! 

He  landed  here  with  a  picayune, 

But  soon  he  sang  the  temperance  tune; 

He  made  a  barrel  of  ginger  beer, — 

If  you  'd  mention  rum,  he  'd  shed  a  tear! 

He  put  on  a  religious  face, 
And  they  made  him  deacon  of  the  place; 
But  every  Sabbath  he  is  found 
Selling  beer  on  the  old  camp-ground ! 

The  'Suckers'  suck  his  ginger  pop, 
But  they  find  it  all  molasses  slop. 
His  ginger  beer  and  ginger  cake 
Give  the  'Suckers'  the  bellyache !" 

I  have  no  doubt  the  rhymester  reported  the  Deacon's 
financial  condition  correctly  on  the  day  he  landed,  but  Brent 
maintained  a  familiar  intercourse  with  Water  Street — where 
water  was  the  only  refreshment  unobtainable — and  it  is  pos 
sible  that  he  was  overseas  when  he  made  the  claim  that  the 
Deacon  sold  pop  on  the  Sabbath ;  that  the  brand  was  not  the 
best  known  to  the  trade,  conducive  to  abdominal  calm  and  a 
better  grade  of  morals  than  pertained  to  hilarious  printers. 
If  the  Deacon  landed  with  a  picayune,  he  quit  the  town  with 
a  barrel  of  'em,  and  that  is  where  he  had  the  advantage  of  the 
jokers,  for  if  the  assets  of  the  nondescripts  of  the  town  had 
been  pooled,  the  Deacon  might  easily  have  bought  them  in 
with  his  small  change.  Business  at  the  bake-shop  prospered; 
the  pop  and  ginger  cake  were  in  time  let  out,  the  luncheon 
trade  was  abandoned,  and  the  Deacon  and  family  (for  each 
member  contributed  to  the  success  of  the  business  in  a  direct 
way)  became  the  leading  venders  of  millinery,  not  to  men 
tion  dry  goods,  of  which  he  came  eventually  to  carry  a  large 
stock.  The  town  did  not  continue  to  thrive  like  the  trade- 


Recollections  of  Pioneer  and  Army  Life,  73 

centers  in  the  interior  on  the  railroads,  and  Deacon  Banner 
removed  his  business  to  Galesburg,  where  he  prospered  and 
died  in  the  possession  of  a  very  considerable  estate,  having 
realty  holdings  in  some  of  the  growing  cities  in  the  West. 

It  was  not  so  disreputable  to  sell  and  drink  whiskey  in 
those  days  as  it  is  now,  although  it  was  felt  by  many  to  be  an 
unqualified  curse.  Legal  enactments  were  not  as  yet  leveled 
at  it,  but  self-respect  compelled  many  to  shrink  from  its  asso 
ciations.  The  town  was  well  equipped  for  the  display  of  the 
business  in  its  most  degrading  aspects,  and  could  turn  out  a 
grist  on  short  notice.  I  recall  passing  in  the  early  morning  the 
window  of  a  grog-shop  kept,  I  am  sorry  to  say,  by  so  good 
a  man  as  Obadiah  Eames,  and  discovering  the  floor  covered 
with  men  who  had  fallen  in  a  drunken  stupor  and  gone  to 
sleep  at  the  close  of  an  all-night  carousal. 

For  some  years  after  my  father  left  the  farm  the  family 
continued  to  attend  the  services  on  the  Sabbath  at  South  Hen 
derson,  and  it  was  a  common  thing,  as  we  drove  along,  to  see 
drunken  men  lying  at  the  roadside,  sound  asleep,  their  bloated 
faces  upturned  to  the  burning  sun,  their  clothing  saturated 
with  the  premature  disgorgement  of  an  overcharged  stomach 
— their  saddle-horses  grazing  close  by. 

Among  the  vicious  class  it  was  supposed  to  be  a  mark  of 
genius  for  a  lawyer  or  doctor  to  be  drunk  when  off  duty,  and 
if  he  succeeded  in  making  a  good  plea  or  prescription  when 
drunk,  it  was  a  miracle  to  be  noised  to  the  ends  of  the  earth. 
Old  Doc  Hulbert,  of  Rozetta,  was  one  of  these  miraculously 
endowed  physicians.  In  the  opinion  of  many  people,  the 
drunker  he  was  the  greater  his  skill  in  the  practice  of  his  pro 
fession.  He  was  a  good  doctor  and  would,  of  course,  have 
been  a  better  one  of  it  had  been  possible  for  him  to  have  lived 
a  sober  life.  It  came  to  be  a  street  scene  to  occasion  little 
notice  when  this  unfortunate  man,  obliviously  drunk,  seated 
in  his  old  buggy,  his  trusty  horse  carefully  picking  its  way 
along  the  road,  from  which  it  would  not  depart  until  the  old 


74  Recollections  of  Pioneer  and  Army  Life. 

master  had  been  safely  landed  at  his  own  gate   some   miles 
away. 

Firewater  is  not  a  good  protection  from  cold,  but  on  a 
day  the  late  Charles  M.  Harris  (distinguished  lawyer  and  one- 
term  member  of  Congress)  ran  this  gauntlet  without  injury. 
He  was  a  three-hundred-pounder,  and  on  a  trip  to  Keithsburg 
in  an  open  vehicle  with  some  boon  companions,  in  the  dead 
of  winter  and  against  a  fierce  north  wind,  he  was  seen  with  his 
shirt-front  wide  open,  in  the  full  enjoyment  of  the  supremt 
luxury  of  a  drunken  stupor. 


CHAFER  XIV. 


THK  PRESIIYTERIAX  CHAPEL  AND  ITS  MEMORIES. 

My  uncle  James  Jamison  went  to  the  woods  and  cut 
down,  hewed  out  and  delivered  the  oak  logs  for  the  frame 
work  of  the  Presbyterian  church  in  the  village,  and  it  is  as 
neat  a  pioneer  chapel  as  can  be  found  in  the  State.  I  can 
hear  the  tolling  of  the  bell  in  the  cupola  this  moment  as  in  the 
far-away  years,  when  each  stroke  counted  one  for  every  year 
of  him  who  was  being  borne  over  to  his  last  rest  in  the  village 
cemetery.  I  was  at  the  burial,  when  a  lad,  of  a  brother  01 
Judge  William  C.  Rice.  As  the  scene  closed  the  Judge  said 
to  a  friend,  "This  is  the  last  of  earth !"  How  a  few  words 
like  these  will  stick  in  the  memory !  It  so  happened  that,  after 
an  absence  of  many  years  from  the  State.  I  was  within  call 
when  I  heard  that  the  remains  of  two  old  friends,  those  of 
Joseph  Chickering  and  Mrs.  John  M.  Fuller,  the  mother  of 
those  gallant  soldiers,  Lieutenant  Wm.  H.,  of  the  Signal  Corps, 
and  Sergeant  Andrew  M.  Fuller,  would  be  buried  in  this  con 
secrated  ground  the  next  day.  I  obeyed  the  promptings  of 
my  heart  and  went  to  see  the  remains  of  so  much  that  was 
good,  and  so  closely  associated  with  the  early  history  of  the 
county,  left  to  silence  and  the  worm. 

When  I  wish  to  recall  the  fair  young  faces  and  the  grave 
and  reverend  seigniors  of  the  days  of  my  youth,  I  am  wont  to 
summon  a  gathering  at  the  crowded  Presbyterian  chapel  on 
a  bright  Sunday  morning  in  June  in  the  forties.  Whoever 
designed  the  little  house  of  worship  had  a  lot  of  good  sense. 
It  possesses  the  beauty  of  true  proportions,  and  escaped  the 
beggarly  attempt  at  ornament  so  common  in  the  structures 
of  its  class  in  the  new  \Yest.  The  interior  was  finished  in 


76  Recollections  of  Pioneer  and  Army  Life. 

solid  walnut,  and  the  builder  was  not  stingy  in  the  use  of  the 
raw  material.  Walnut  lumber  is  so  much  prized  now  that  the 
quantity  of  it  used  in  the  construction  of  those  pews  would 
start  a  man  in  business.  The  backs  of  the  pews  (since  cut 
down)  were  so  high  that  I  had  to  stand  up  and  lengthen  out 
onto  the  ends  of  my  toes  to  see  what  was  going  on  at  the  front. 
But  we  had  a  fine  view  of  the  preacher — of  his  head  merely. 
He  was  boxed  in,  far  and  away ! 

The  pulpit  was  an  architectural  triumph.  There  were  two 
routes  by  which,  if  you  were  careful  and  observed  all  the 
finger-boards  of  direction,  you  could  find  the  good  man  when 
seated  and  lost  to  the  view  of  his  flock.  One  could  start  on 
either  side  where  there  was  a  broad  and  sure  footing  and  be 
gin  the  ascent  of  the  ecclesiastical  Matterhorn.  A  guide  bear 
ing  a  banner  with  a  device,  as  "Where  he  leads  we  will  fol 
low,"  would  have  been  a  great  convenience.  By  keeping  one's 
eye  fixed  on  him  and  not  permitting  him  to  get  too  far  ahead, 
up  the  winding  stairway,  one  might  come  at  last  upon  the 
object  of  his  search.  I  have  heard  of  preachers  unused  to 
this  sky-scraper  pulpit  getting  lost,  trying  to  find  the  "way"  ; 
but  once  in  the  box,  they  could  look  clown  and  count  the  warts 
on  all  the  bald  heads  in  attendance.  The  stranger  was  given 
a  seat  right  under  the  droppings  of  the  sanctuary,  where, 
hearing  a  voice  somewhere  overhead,  he  uniformly  suffered 
dislocation  of  the  neck  trying  to  locate  it.  We  faced  about 
to  see  the  choir  in  the  gallery,  over  the  entrance.  I  suppose 
the  time  never  was  when  the  choir  (the  organ-loft)  was  not 
the  favorite  spot  for  the  display  of  millinery.  Not  always,  I 
suppose  (bless  their  honest  hearts),  was  the  vocalization  of 
the  "old  school"  church  in  inverse  proportion  to  the  display 
of  head-gear.  The  young  women  in  their  flounces  and  fur 
belows  and  the  young  gentlemen  in  their  soap-locks  gave 
prestige  to  the  choir  by  their  numbers,  for  there  was  a  wide 
spread  desire  among  the  young  folks  to  be  of  the  elect  coterie; 
but  as  for  their  deliverance,  they  rested  secure  in  the  belief 
that  in  Father  Chickering  and  his  violin,  his  fine  baritone  and 


Recollections  of  Pioneer  and  Army  Life.  77 

his  accomplished  leadership  and  the  accompanying  melodeon 
they  had  a  safe  refuge  from  detection.  There  was  a  sensa 
tion  among  the  young  gentlemen  when  the  soprano  and  her 
convoying  sisters  filed  in,  enveloped  in  a  distinct  odor  of  the 
perfumer's  art — the  seven  angels  with  the  seven  vials  filled 
with  seven  kinds  of  bear's  oil,  from  which  I  think  the  young 
gentlemen  helped  themselves  surreptitiously  to  more  than  their 
share,  since  they  smelt  so  loud. 

In  the  depths  of  those  high-backed  pews  I  made  one  in 
the  row  of  the  Sunday-school  class,  which  sat  under  the  minis 
trations  of  good  old  "Squire"  Patterson,  with  his  spectacles 
hanging  helplessly  on  his  venerable  nose.  I  maintained  allegi 
ance  to  the  "Squire"  to  secure  the  right  to  draw  a  book  each 
Sunday  from  that  wonderful  library  consecrated  to  the  spirit 
ual  welfare  of  the  on-coming  citizens  of  our  glorious  country. 
I  acknowledge  with  some  dismay  the  greed  with  which  I 
turned  over  the  leaves  of  the  different  books  to  find  the  one 
that  had  the  "purtiest"  pictures.  Having  come  off  victorious 
in  that  reconnaissance,  I  carried  it  home  in  triumph  to  read 
about  Albert  Toogood,  who  was  so  pious  he  always  looked 
down  like  Grief  on  a  tombstone,  who  committed  to  memory  a 
chapter  of  the  Bible  every  day  of  his  precious  life,  who  was 
so  patient  and  sweet  when  one  of  those  old  flinty  sand-burrs 
ran  one  of  its  spirited  needles  a  stout  half-inch  into  his  heel. 
No;  he  never  dropped  one — not  one  of  those  pearly  tears  nor 
bad  words  over  so  trifling  a  thing  as  that.  I  was  satisfied 
with  one  of  those  nice  books.  I  got  through  with  it  in  a 
hurry.  I  felt  so  discouraged  over  Albert's  superior  goodness 
that  I  wanted  to  drown  myself.  The  quality  had  a  rock-ribbed 
pre-emption  right  to  certain  of  the  pews.  These  they  furn 
ished  with  foot-stools  and  cushions,  and  there  was  no  denying 
the  distinguished  manners  of  gentlemen  like  the  late  William 
Moir  and  the  ladies  of  his  family  and  the  allied  families,  of 
whom  there  were  a  number,  who  worshiped  here.  One  of 
these  (the  late  Asa  Smith's)  had  artistic  talents  of  a  high 
order.  One  of  my  earliest  recollections  is  of  Mr.  Smith's 


78  Recollections  of  Pioneer  und  .lnn\   Life. 

studio  in  a  building  which  stood  on  the  corner  west  of  the  old 
Conger  boarding-house,  where  portraits  from  life,  in  oil,  hung 
on  the  walls.  There  was  slight  patronage  in  the  pioneer  town 
for  one  so  regally  endowed,  but  the  wonderful  discovery  of 
Daguerre  made  it  possible  for  the  humblest  the  world  over 
to  possess  the  likenesses  of  those  clear  to  them,  and  Mr.  Smith 
established  a  gallery  and  supplied  the  people  far  and  near 
with  the  pictures  they  so  much  prized.  Many  families  still 
have  specimens  of  that  art  of  surprising  beauty  and  fidelity. 
Then  came  in  succession  the  ambrotype  and  finally  the  photo 
graph — all  of  which  Mr.  Smith  successfully  cultivated.  I 
recall  an  incident  which  illustrates  his  skill  in  drawing.  His 
neighbor,  Mr.  Blackheart  (which  indeed  was  not  a  name  one 
would  choose  for  a  good  neighbor,  but  was  the  best  the  fore 
bears  of  the  old,  well-known  blacksmith  could  do  for  him), 
had  lost  his  cow.  and  after  some  days  he  chanced  to  call  at 
Mr.  Smith's  book-store,  where  he  found  a  pencil  sketch  of  a 
cow  the  artist  had  drawn  from  life  as  she  stood  under  a  tree 
two  miles  north  of  the  town.  A  peculiarity  in  the  faithful 
portraiture  convinced  the  owner  that  here  was  a  true  picture 
of  the  estray,  and  on  going  to  the  spot  the  animal  was 
recovered. 

Chickering  &  Fanning's  furniture  factory  came  in  time 
to  be  an  important  enterprise  in  the  industrial  development 
of  the  town.  Both  of  these  gentlemen  were  skilled  mechanics, 
and  most  of  the  burial  caskets  were  made  to  order  in  their 
shops,  and  Mr.  Chickering  was  the  familiar  official  at  the  ob 
sequies  of  his  friends  and  neighbors.  I  shall  never  forgel 
my  astonishment  at  being  told  one  day  that  Johnny  Roberts 
was  dead !  He  was  of  my  own  size  and  age.  We  were 
classmates.  He?  Johnny?  So  blithe  and  gay — dead?  I 
was  dumb.  The  next  day  Mr.  Chickering's  son  Henry,  also 
my  classmate,  told  me  his  father  was  making  Johnny's  coffin. 
I  made  no  reply,  but  we  went  down  together  to  the  factory  to 
see  it.  I  stole  softly  into  the  room  where  the  good  man  was 
deftly  putting  in  place  the  white  lining  of  Johnny's  narrow 


Recollections  of  Pioneer  and  Army   Life.  79 

house.  I  was  sober  beyond  words  in  going  close  to  it.  I  did 
not  care  to  touch  it,  but  I  looked  down  into  it,  and  my  first 
thought  was,  "It  is  so  long!  Johnny  could  not  be  so  tall  as 
that !"  Then  Mr.  Chickering  explained  to  me  why  the  foot  of  it 
was  made  at  an  angle — that  the  pair  of  little  feet  themselves 
came,,  as  it  were,  to  "attention,"  till  the  dissolving  years  made 
them  relent.  It  was  all  very  wonderful,  a  part  of  the  great 
mystery,  but  I  could  not  utter  a  word. 

The  pastor  at  the  chapel  at  one  time  was  Dr.  King,  a  fiery, 
impetuous  spirit,  who  might  have  led  a  forlorn  hope  on 
Marye's  Hill  at  Fredericksburg.  At  a  morning  service  he  made 
a  characteristic  parenthesis.  He  read  the  old  familiar  hymn 
in  which  Dr.  Watts  sacrificed  his  orthodoxy  to  accomplish  the 
rhythm  in  the  couplet  which  declares  that 

"While  the  lamp  holds  out  to  burn 
The  vilest  sinner  may  return !" 

In  short,  sharp  staccato  the  doctor  said :  "The  choir  will  please 
omit  the  stanza  [giving  the  number],  for  I  believe  it  to  be 
wholly  and  essentially  false!"  Many  a  time  and  oft  had  I 
heard  the  hymn  used  in  the  service,  but  this  was  the  first  time 
I  had  ever  heard  it  challenged. 


CHAPTER  XV. 


THE;  GHOST  AND  THS  FINK  &  WALKER  STAGS-COACH. 

My  mother's  relatives,  the  Giles,  were  the  most  friendly 
people  in  the  world,  and  when  they  came  down  from  "Cedar" 
to  pay  us  a  visit,  there  was  a  demonstration  of  "that  fellow- 
feeling  which  makes  us  wondrous  kind" ;  but  I  recall  an  in 
cident  which  occurred  on  an  occasion  of  this  kind  which  left 
a.  different  impression.  My  forebears  were  Scotch-Irish  on 
both  sides,  with  a  distinct  vein  (if  only  a  vein)  of  the  super 
stitions  of  the  race,  as  this  instance  will  show.  My  uncle  EH 
Giles  was  paying  my  mother  a  visit,  and  the  family  had  separ 
ated  after  supper  and  left  my  uncle  and  my  mother  in  conver 
sation  at  the  table,  with  myself  as  the  third  party.  The  con 
versation  turned  upon  the  subject  of  ghosts,  in  which  Andy 
Allen  (another  uncle)  was  a  firm  believer,  according  to  the 
representations  of  my  uncle  who  led  the  conversation.  My 
elders  had  forgotten  me,  or  were  careless — certainly  uncon 
scious  of  the  effect  of  their  narrations  upon  the  nervous,  diffi 
dent  boy  who  was  their  only  auditor.  I  was  unused  to  ghost- 
stories,  and  was  startled  from  the  first,  and  I  followed  the 
tales  with  increasing  alarm.  My  easily  awakened  imagination 
magnified  the  incidents  in  the  story  of  the  dark  woods,  the 
road  running  past  the  haunted  house,  where  the  man  had  been 
murdered  and  from  whence  the  belated  traveler  was  inter 
cepted  by  the  ghost,  etc.,  etc.  These  phases  with  their  varia 
tions  were  related  as  facts,  attested,  they  said,  by  my  uncle 
Andy,  and  I  believed  every  word  of  the  story.  As  I  listened 
my  senses  sank  under  the  load  of  fright  and  I  started  up  from 
the  table  distraught!  I  looked  at  my  mother.  Her  face  had 
changed.  I  knew  her  not.  I  remember  distinctly  these  changes 


Recollections  of  Pioneer  and  Army  Life.  81 

in  my  senses,  but  I  was  powerless  to  recall  them  or  to  rid 
myself  of  the  spell.  I  was  for  the  moment  daft.  I  made  no 
outcry,  and  my  mother,  unconscious  of  my  condition,  continued 
in  an  amused  way  to  listen  to  the  stupid  outrage  from  which 
J  suffered.  I  think  it  \vas  her  low,  kind  voice,  reassuring,  al 
though  unconsciously  so,  which  restored  me.  I  seem  never 
to  have  gotten  quite  over  the  shock,  but  I  said  not  a  word  to 
my  mother  nor  to  others  about  it;  and  in  this  I  was  wiser 
than  I  knew,  for  if  I  had  confessed  to  my  suffering,  I  would 
have  been  quenched  in  the  brutality  of  our  human  nature,  for 
the  savage  is  so  strong,  in  the  young  at  least,  that  I  would 
have  been  laughed  at. 

The  youngsters  at  the  Yellow  Banks  were  an  enterpris 
ing  lot.  We  had  ambitions — assorted  sizes  and  kinds.  Our 
thoughts  rested  heavily,  like  the  weight  of  the  globe  on  the 
shoulders  of  Atlas,  on  two  choice  professions — namely,  that 
of  the  pirate  and  the  stage-driver.  We  stood  on  the  edge  of 
the  water  and  saw  through  the  fog,  or  thought  we  saw,  a  low. 
rakish  craft  steal  from  the  shadows  of  the  main  shore  over 
to  one  of  the  islands.  During  the  passage  we  spoke  in  whisp 
ers,  and  our  eyes  were  as  big  as  the  ivory  rings  on  the  martin 
gales  of  Bill  Van  Pelt's  livery  nags.  We  exchanged  comments 
on  the  size  of  the  scowl  on  the  pirate  captain's  face  and  the 
pike,  as  big  as  a  fence-rail,  with  which  he  scuttled  ships  and 
split  the  liver  of  his  enemies.  But  the  stage-driver  was  our 
beau  ideal.  Him  we  worshiped.  If  he  condescended  to  walk  on 
earth  after  the  grand  entry,  we  trailed  after  him  (all  the  small 
boys  in  town)  like  a  brood  of  sucking  pigs!  If  he  indulged 
himself  in  a  bit  of  humor  to  the  effect  that  old  Mathews,  the 
baker,  filled  his  pies  with  stewed  potato  vines  in  lieu  of  ap 
ples,  we  snickered  in  the  most  truckling  way.  I  can  see  him 
now,  seated  on  the  box,  over  "the  boot,"  high  and  lifted  up. 
armed  with  the  long  braided  whip,  with  which  to  touch  the 
leaders  under  the  belly  with  that  hawk-like  circle  and  down 
ward  swoop  known  only  to  stage-drivers  of  a  generation  now 
extinct.  As  he  descended  upon  the  admiring  town  with  break- 


82  Recollections  of  Pioneer  and  Army  Life. 

neck  speed,  he  blew  his  horn.  Ah  !  was  it  not  grand !  the  tally- 
ho,  as  it  poised  for  a  moment  on  the  brow  of  old  Schuyler 
Street  in  the  days  before  the  hill  was  graded  down !  And  the 
bare-legged,  shirt-tailed  boys  swooped  around  the  corner  like 
pigeons  to  take  it  all  in !  How  the  old  Fink  &  Walker  stage 
coach  rocked  and  plunged,  and  stood  on  her  beam  ends,  as  she 
rounded  the  corner  in  a  cloud  of  dust  and  landed  before  Col 
onel  Patterson's  post  office,  where  the  mail-bags  were  thrown 
out  and  the  passengers  braced  themselves  for  the  role  of  dis 
tinguished  arrivals  to  meet  the  expectations  of  the  staring 
crowd ! 

Colonel  J.  B.  Patterson  was  hardly  less  distinguished  in 
the  eyes  of  the  small  boy  than  the  stage-driver  himself.  In 
our  minds  he  was  intimately  associated  with  that  great  rival. 
He  received  the  mail-bags  from  him,  and  the  mail  in  our  youth 
ful  thought  was  an  important  matter.  I  supposed  the  Great 
Father,  who  lived  in  some  great  temple  of  fame  like  unto  that 
which  used  to  serve  as  a  frontispiece  for  McGuffey's  second 
reader,  wrote  all  the  letters  and  sent  them  to  everybody  and 
everybody  sent  him  letters  in  return  and  paid  Colonel  Patter 
son  for  the  privilege.  And  I  used  to  look  with  an  absorbing 
interest  on  the  little  tray  at  the  table  open  to  all,  where  the 
good  Colonel  kept  the  old-fashioned  pennies,  big  as  our  "quar 
ters,"  the  picayunes,  the  i2l/2  cent  "bits,"  the  "smooth"  quar 
ters  with  a  cross  on  them  which  marked  them  as  degenerate 
and  worth  only  20  cents,  all  of  which  were  used  as  legal  tender 
in  the  payment  of  postage,  all  the  way  from  6  to  25  cents  per 
letter,  according  to  the  distance. 

One  of  the  "lame  ducks"  in  the  early  history  of  Hender 
son  County  was  Watty  Burnside.  Watty  was  a  patriot  after  his 
kind.  He  was  zealous  in  the  matter  of  specie  payments,  and 
in  his  role  was  a  sort  of  financial  prophet  in  the  wilderness. 
His  contribution  to  the  country's  circulating  medium  was 
home-made.  His  equipment  consisted  of  a  pair  of  molds,  or 
dies,  and  a  melting-pot.  In  the  latter  he  was  wont  to  reduce 
old  pewter  spoons  ;  lacking  these,  he  challenged  Fate  and  the 


Recollections  of  Pioneer  and  Army  Life.  83 

scrutiny  of  the  public  with  plain,  bare-faced  bar  lead.  With 
this  material  he  "struck"  half-dollars  bearing  the  similitude 
of  the  coin  of  the  same  denomination  issued  by  Uncle  Sam. 
Watty  was  a  dense  old  simpleton  and  thought  he  could  ex 
change  the  output  of  his  mint  for  the  common  moonshine 
whiskey  of  his  time.  Rut  the  boss  of  the  Water  Street  grog 
shop  was  built  on  the  same  lines  as  his  lineal  descendant  of  to 
day — calculating  and  sober  in  handing  out  the  drinks,  and  knew 
the  kind  of  money  that  would  "pass"  better  than  anybody.  I 
never  heard  of  Sam  Snook  being  drunk — never!  arid  when 
Watty  came  along  and  threw  down  one  of  his  galena  half- 
dollars  to  liquidate  his  bill  for  corn-juice,  Sam  (who  had  a 
hammer  and  nails  close  at  hand  for  such  emergencies)  took 
the  alleged  coin  and,  with  a  deep  and  horrible  oath,  nailed  it 
to  the  counter.  In  this  manner  Watty  left  souvenirs  of  him 
self  all  over  the  country.  And  by  and  by  the  sheriff  came 
along  and  took  him  by  the  ear  and  locked  him  up,  and  at  the 
following  session  of  the  circuit  court  he  was  sent  down  to 
Alton  (the  State's  prison  was  at  Alton  in  his  day)  to  serve 
time. 

Mr.  Joseph  Chickering.  the  founder  of  the  pioneer  fur 
niture  factory,  was  of  Massachusetts  origin,  and  the  family 
name  adorns  the  history  of  the  old  Bay  State.  His  forebears 
were  persons  of  culture,  distinguished  as  clergymen,  musicians, 
and  manufacturers  of  musical  instruments  of  national  celeb 
rity.  He  possessed  in  full  measure  the  varied  talents  peculiar 
to  his  ancient  and  honorable  family,  and  it  was  a  kind  Provi 
dence  that  sent  this  good  man,  so  useful  in  his  day  and  genera 
tion,  to  the  pioneer  village  so  close  on  the  heels  of  the  depart 
ing  red  man.  One  needs  to  take  a  second  thought  to  appre 
ciate  this  fact ;  to  recall  how  barren  the  pioneer  life  was  of  all 
that  refines,  softens  and  elevates  the  social  scale  at  this  period. 
T  remember  well  when  T  could  not  have  been  more  than  three- 
years  of  age  awaking  in  the  morning  in  my  trundle-bed  from 
the  child's  all-night  deep  slumber  and  meeting  (so  unexpected 
ly)  Mr.  Chickering's  cheerful  greeting.  T  had  already  learned 


84  Recollections  of  Pioneer  and  Army  Life. 

that  here  was  the  kind,  paternal  face  of  the  wonderful  magi 
cian  who  carried  in  a  curious  oblong  box  a  something  I  did 
not  know  the  name  of,  which  he  lovingly  took  up  in  such  a 
funny  way  and  across  it  drew  a  polished  little  stick  with  a 
pearl  in  the  end  of  it,  and  forthwith  came  softly  the  sweetest 
notes  the  child  had  ever  heard,  and  which  made  him  glide 
sideways  around  and  take  refuge  under  his  mother's  arm. 

"The  stork  in  the  heavens  knoweth  her  appointed  times." 
Mystery.  Silence.  The  usual  activities  of  the  household  sud 
denly  ceased.  The  members  were  invisible.  Myself  and  young 
brother,  Ewell  (whom  I  dubbed  the  "Deacon,"  after  Deacon 
Brown,  the  capitalist  of  Monmouth),  were  spirited  away.  I 
cannot  tell  how  nor  where  we  were  held  in  duress.  We  must 
have  been  chloroformed,  or  captured  by  brigands  and  held  for 
ransom.  I  cannot  say.  Strategy.  Women  display  unexpected 
and  wonderful  skill  in  maneuvers.  There  are  few  of  them 
that  do  not  excel  Napoleon  in  the  art  of  concealing  the  move 
ments  in  the  campaign  which  they  are  directing.  They  were 
supernaturally  smooth  on  this  occasion,  or  there  would  have 
been  a  big  kick.  The  "Deacon"  and  I  "got  fooled  oncet,"  as 
the  Dutchman  says — and  with  all  our  wits  so  miraculously 
sharpened !  Some  hours  passed.  I  do  not  know  how  it  came 
about,  but  my  brother  and  I  as  by  a  flash  regained  our  liberty 
and  our  consciousness.  We  realized  at  once  that  our  home 
was  in  eclipse.  Darkness  reigned,  and  trouble.  Cousin  Sarah, 
T  think  it  was,  came  with  an  anxious  face  and  took  us  by  the 
hand  and  led  us  up  into  mother's  chamber.  We  were  amazed 
at  the  large  group  of  sad  faces,  the  physician  in  the  midst,  sur 
rounding  mother's  bed.  The  ominous  fever  had  taken  hold 
of  her.  and  they  were  in  despair.  Father  hung  over  her  pillow 
the  picture  of  suspense  and  apprehension.  There  lay  th a,  lov 
ing  face — the  one  face  in  all  the  world !  She  said  some  ten 
der  words  to  her  two  small  lads,  which  I  cannot  repeat  here, 
and  we  were  taken  away.  The  night  came  on — the  night 
which  has  steeped  in  forgetfulness  so  much  of  the  sorrow  of 
the  world.  Out  of  childhood's  long,  dreamless  slumber  I 


Recollections  of  Pioneer  and  Army  Life.  85 

awoke  the  first  of  all.  It  was  scarce  day.  I  started  from  my 
bed  with  all  my  senses  in  an  agony  of  inquiry  to  know  the 
truth.  In  the  death-like  silence  I  stole  out  from  my  own  room 
and  went  half  creeping,  I  knew  not  why,  to  my  mother's  room 
and  looked  in.  The  watchers  were  asleep  and  the  doctor  and 
the  friends  were  gone.  My  mother's  bed  seemed  so  still  and 
large  and  white;  it  startled  me  to  look  at  it,  and  she  was  lost 
to  sight  in  its  folds.  During  the  night  hours  the  fever  had 
not  at  least  increased  and  the  sick  one  had  fallen  into  deep 
sleep,  and  the  doctor  and  attendants  had  all  agreed  that  she 
would  be  well  again  and  separated. 

But  think  of  the  happiness  of  that  mother !  She  had  lived 
all  her  married  life  in  a  household  of  noisy,  willful  boys — • 
young  savages,  that  gave  her  little  peace  with  the  demands 
made  upon  her  time  and  patience.  There,  on  her  arm,  she 
had  a  pulsating  life  more  fragile  than  a  Sevres  vase,  more 
precious  than  fine  gold — a  little  daughter,  to  be  the  companion 
of  her  old  age,  and  in  whose  arms  she  was  to  die !  My  moth 
er's  face  was  very  sad  at  times,  and  her  thoughts  seemed  far 
away.  As  she  mused  the  fire  burned  and  her  lips  moved  as 
if  in  prayer.  I  often  wanted  to  go  and  put  my  arms  around 
her,  but  it  seemed  like  a  kind  of  sacrilege  to  disturb  her  at 
such  moments,  and  I  refrained.  What  soul  born  into  this 
world  hath  not  had  such  moments,  when  the  pulse  beats  low 
and  the  spirit  seems  aweary  of  time  and  sense?  I  was  often 
a  truant  boy,  and  this  dear  Christian  mother  would  take  me 
into  a  room  aside  and  close  the  door,  and  we  would  kneel 
clown,  and  she  would  offer  that  prayer  for  me  which  I  hope 
will  avail  when  all  other  pleas  are  in  abatement. 

Two  notable  publications  that  appeared  during  my  boy 
hood  not  only  made  a  distinct  impression  on  my  own  mind, 
but  stirred  the  anti-slavery  sentiment  of  the  country  to  its 
profoundest  depths — Harriet  Beecher  Stowe's  "Uncle  Tom's 
Cabin"  and  "My  Bondage  and  My  Freedom,"  by  Frederick 
Douglass.  The  first  was  read  in  the  humblest  homes  in  almost 
every  hamlet  in  the  Northern  States.  My  mother  had  a  strong 


86  Recollections  of  Pioneer  and  .-Inny  Life. 

prejudice  against  fiction,  but  she  read  "Uncle  Tom,"  and  she 
and  my  cousin  Sarah  Ann  were  amusingly  agitated  over  the 
incidents  in  the  story.  The  reading  of  these  books  made  a 
dangerous  fanatic  of  me.  I  was  not  noisy,  but  if  "Osawat- 
omie"  Brown  had  marched  by  at  the  moment  in  the  prosecu 
tion  of  any  of  the  turbulent  schemes  of  his  career,  I  certainly 
should  have  enlisted  under  his  banner  and  got  hung  in  my 
zeal. 


CHAPTER  XVI. 


THE  SCHOOL-TEACHER  DESCENDED  FROM  THE 
PILGRIM  FATHERS. 

Brokelbank;  do  you  remember  him?  Alexis  Phelps  was 
living  when  I  went  to  school  to  Brokelbank.  James  K.  Polk 
was  President.  Yes,  that  is  quite  a  ways  back ;  sixty  yearr 
now  and  more.  I  would  like  to  be  a  child  again — a  small  boy ; 
but  not  on  the  old  terms !  Those  were  the  good  old  days, 
that  is  true;  but  "ye  that  say  the  former  times  are  better  than 
these,  ye  inquire  not  wisely  concerning  these  things."  I  would 
like  to  be  a  small  boy  now  and  hold  in  my  strong  embrace  "the 
faces  loved  long  since  and  lost  awhile,"  and  all  the  other  pre 
cious  things  that  I  have  garnered  and  that  are  the  furniture 
of  the  soul.  Brokelbank  must  have  been  a  Dutchman.  Look 
at  his  name !  A  Hollander  by  blood  descent,  although  I  would 
not  needlessly  hurt  the  feelings  of  the  good  young  queen  of 
that  country  by  saying  so;  nor  would  I  cast  a  slur  on  the  Pil 
grim  Fathers,  but  I  find  the  name  among  those  folks  who  came 
over  in  16 — .  He  was  not  of  the  true  Dutch  type,  to  be  sure. 
He  had  not  the  rubicund  face  nor  the  jovial  capacity  for  lager 
beer  commonly  attributed  to  that  ancient  and  honorable  race. 
In  the  last  analysis  Brokelbank  was  an  attenuated  Dutch  Yan 
kee.  He  appeared  on  the  streets  of  the  Yellow  Banks  quite 
unlocked  for  by  the  honest  burghers.  He  said  he  was  a  school 
teacher.  His  accomplishments  as  such  seemed  to  lie  in  the 
direction  of  a  strong  aversion  to  earning  his  bread  by  the 
sweat  of  his  brow.  He  dropped  in  at  Henderson  &  Graham's 
store  in  the  old  Trian  &  Day  building  on  a  Saturday  in  the 
year  1848,  and  after  discussing  the  weather  and  the  probable 

87 


88  Recollections  of  Pioneer  and  Army  Life. 

succe>s  of  General  Zach  Taylor  in  his  race  for  the  Presidency, 
he  was  on  the  point  of  taking  his  leave;  when,  admonished 
hy  the  approach  of  winter  that  a  pair  of  gloves  would  come 
handy,  he  turned  to  the  counter,  on  which  lay  a  quantity  of 
the  buckskin  variety,  which,  along  with  buffalo-robes,  were 
the  vogue  of  the  period,  and  pulled  on  a  pair,  but  declined  to 
purchase  at  the  solicitation  of  Colonel  Henderson,  but  he 
would  see  the  Colonel  later,  he  said,  or  words  to  that  effect. 
In  relating  this  incident  in  his  reminiscent  hours  the  Colonel 
used  to  say  that  it  gave  him  a  pang  to  recall  that  Brokelbank 
did  not  keep  his  word,  but  that  a  hurried  inventory  taken  on 
the  heels  of  his  departure  disclosed  a  shortage  in  the  stock 
of  gloves  by  one  pair ! 

I  was  a  freshman  at  the  seat  of  learning  known  as  the 
Brokelbank  school-house,  which  stood  across  the  street  from 
the  grounds  of  Alexis  Phelps.  My  time  was  occupied  in 
learning  to  spell  "horse-back"  and  similar  words  in  Webster's 
old  blue-back  spelling-book,  and  in  solving  the  conundrums  in 
McGuffey's  second  reader.  The  picture  of  Albert  driving  hi« 
dog  hitched  to  the  victoria  was  the  piece  de  resistance  around 
which  my  affections  revolved.  I  quarreled  with  the  order  of 
things  every  time  I  looked  at  that  picture.  I  wanted  a  dog 
like  that,  that  would  work  anywhere  you  put  him,  single  or 
double,  and  a  wagon  like  that  one,  in  which  I  could  rest  at  my 
ease,  whip  in  hand,  and  drive  the  dog  and  keep  on  driving  him 
forever.  When  my  attention  was  withdrawn  for  the  moment 
from  Albert  and  his  dog,  I  was  industriously  engaged  with  a 
Barlow  knife,  cutting  my  initials  in  the  desk,  which  was  a  plain 
slab  already  overloaded  with  the  hieroglyphics  of  preceding 
generations;  and  when  this  labor  palled,  my  energies  were 
absorbed  in  writing  love-letters  for  Bill  Kelly.  Bill  couldn't 
write,  but  he  was  moving  heaven  and  earth  trying  to  learn  the 
art,  which  seemed  an  up-hill  business  for  him.  I  can  see  him 
now,  sprawled  over  the  desk,  his  tongue  squirming  around  in 
his  mouth  like  an  imprisoned  boa  constrictor  on  the  point  of 
breaking  through,  his  cramped  fingers  bending  desperately  to 


Recollections  of  Pioneer  and  Army  Life.  89 

the  task  of  making  parallel  lines,  which  was  the  first  lesson 
after  the  ancient  method.  I  don't  remember  whether  I  acted 
as  Bill's  stenographer  and  took  the  matter  down  at  his  dicta 
tion,  or  whether  it  was  a  scheme  of  my  own  to  test  the  young 
lady's  affections  by  proxy.  I  don't  know  what  came  of  it  all ; 
nothing  in  particular,  I  think,  except  the  evidences,  which  were 
plain  enough,  that  Cupid's  wings  w^ere  short  in  his  first  flight. 
The  young  lady  was  well  worthy  the  amorous  forays  of  the 
most  gallant  knights.  She  was  a  pretty  little  body,  the  daugh 
ter  of  Dr.  Clendenin.  1  wonder  if  any  who  read  these  pages 
remember  Dr.  Clendenin?  Whether  they  do  or  not,  some  of 
the  big  boys,  like  Billy  Wood  and  Homer  Conger,  locked  oid 
Brokelbank  out  of  the  school-house  and  nailed  tbe  windows 
down  !  Y'see  it  was  this  way :  Christmas  had  come  and  Brokey 
had  failed  to  treat.  The  big  boys  determined  to  force  the 
issue,  and  they  got  a  padlock  and  fastened  the  door  solid,  and 
set  two  big  forked  posts  in  the  ground  in  front  of  the  door 
and  laid  a  rail  from  fork  to  fork,  and  this  they  called  a  "horse," 
on  which  they  said  they  would  ride  Brokey  if  he  should  con 
clude  not  to  "set  'em  up."  Then  they  got  a  stick  and  furled  a 
handkerchief  upon  it  and  set  it  a  flying  from  the  head  of  the 
"horse,"  as  a  sort  of  challenge  from  which  Brokey  might  take 
warning  at  a  distance  that  the  boys  were  "onto  him."  Then 
they  took  to  the  brush  and  watched  to  see  what  Brokey  would 
do.  Well,  he  came  along  at  9  o'clock  (the  school  hour),  and 
the  horse  was  there  to  receive  him,  but  never  said  a  word, 
nor  Brokey  a  word  to  the  horse.  Then  Brokey  looked  around, 
raspy  and  hot,  and  found  an  old  hammer  lying  on  the  ground, 
with  which  the  boys  had  nailed  the  windows  down  and  had 
forgotten. 

Brokey  did  it  with  that  hammer — he  smashed  that  pad 
lock  till  it  looked  worse  than  one  of  those  Russian  battleships 
in  the  Straits  of  Tsushima  after  Togo  had  gotten  satisfaction 
cut  of  it ;  then  he  opened  the  academy  on  time,  as  usual.  But 
I  want  to  say  confidentially  that  Brokey  rallied  handsomely 
and  went  down  to  Deacon  Benner's  at  noon  and  bought  a 


<o  Recollections  of  Pioneer  and  Army  Life. 

bushel  basket  full  of  sweet-cakes,  gingerbread  and  things,  and 
fed  us  like  chickens  at  the  coop. 

Other  shadows  fell  on  the  old  school-house.  The  chil 
dren  whispered  to  each  other  how  bad  some  of  their  playmates 
felt  when  a  new  report  came  from  the  sick-room  across  the 
way.  It  was  one  of  the  palatial  homes  of  a  branch  of  an  in 
fluential  family  engaged  in  the  Indian  and  domestic  trade  of 
the  frontier.  The  loss  of  such  a  man  would  be  severely  felt 
by  the  community.  The  children  at  school  had  some  compre 
hension  of  this,  and  we  were  in  deep  sympathy  when  a  young 
girl  came  to  the  door  and  beckoned  to  her  sisters  in  the  school 
room.  They  went  out  in  tears  and  we  all  knew  that  Alexis 
Phelps  was  dying.  The  old  school-house  was  affected  by  the 
California  gold  fever  with  the  rest  of  the  town.  Brokelbank 
showed  strong  symptoms  from  the  first.  He  was  absent 
minded  in  the  conduct  of  the  school.  He  was  a  diligent  in 
quirer  after  the  latest  news.  He  would  start  up  in  his  dreams 
with  a  bag  of  gold  as  big  as  a  beer-keg  in  each  hand.  He 
early  made  up  his  mind  to  go.  He  went.  But,  like  most  of  his 
neighbors,  he  had  difficulties  to  overcome.  He  was  breasting 
a  financial  shortage.  He  had  not  thought  of  California  having 
a  gold  eruption.  He  had  been  teaching  geography  for  a  num 
ber  of  years  and  California  was  "laid  down"  in  the  old  Olney 
school  atlas  sicklied  o'er  with  the  pale  cast  the  few  "Greasers" 
and  old  Spanish  missions  could  confer  upon  it,  never  once 
suspected  of  the  largess  she  held  in  store  for  the  seekers  after 
the  golden  fleece.  He  must  now  make  the  best  of  it,  and  take 
his  chances.  He  elaborated  plans  which  involved  a  wagon, 
oxen,  and  provisions  in  quantity.  He  placed  an  order  for  o 
wagon  at  one  of  the  local  shops,  linchpins  and  all,  and  started 
the  men  at  work  on  it  forthwith.  The  woodwork  finished  in 
due  time,  it  was  up  to  Brokey  to  provide  the  iron  for  it.  At 
this  point  Brokey  struck  a  sawyer  He  was  "busted" — to  use 
the  vernacular  of  a  frontier  town  in  '49.  On  his  pillow  lie 
thought  it  all  over,  and  took  heart  in  a  way.  I  will  explain  if 
my  reader  will  forbear.  He  rose  from  his  couch  and  shook 


Recollections  of  Pioneer  and  Army  Life.  91 

himself,  to  clear  his  wits — and  disappeared  in  the  darknes:-, 
fired  with  an  invincible  resolution.  If  he  weakened  at  any 
moment,  he  recovered  his  courage  at  once  as  the  gold  mirage 
flooded  the  dark  offing  of  his  mind  with  its  glory.  There  was 
something  extraordinary  in  the  buoyancy  with  which  he  slipped 
through  the  inky  night  in  the  pursuit  of  his  evil  purpose.  His 
feet  were  shod  with  wool,  and  his  long  thin  legs  strode  nimbly 
and  noiselessly  down  to  Jamison  &  Moir's  iron-house,  which, 
under  the  provision  of  honest  merchants  who  believed  in  the 
"open  door,"  stood  open  all  night.  Here  Brokey  found  bar 
iron  in  quantity  for  all  purposes.  It  nearly  broke  his  back, 
but  he  carried  off  iron  enough  and  more  to  complete  his  wagon 
in  every  detail.  Years  afterward  the  blacksmiths  acknowl 
edged  that  the  scars  were  plain  where  Brokey  did  his  best  to 
file  away  the  shipping-mark  "J  &  M"  on  the  bar  iron  used  on 
that  wagon,  but  they  did  not  "give  him  away,"  because  they 
had  money  and  labor  tied  up  in  it  which  they  did  not  wish  10 
compromise. 

Brokey 's  weary  wanderings  out  over  the  plains  to  Cali 
fornia  are  not  of  sufficient  interest  to  justify  rehearsal  here, 
but  I  will  indicate  in  a  word  what  became  of  him.  Teaching, 
and  Nature's  bias  had  unfitted  him  for  delving  in  the  bowels 
of  the  earth.  It  made  him  tired  to  think  of  supporting  the 
frail  tabernacle  in  that  way,  and  in  the  hour  when  the  owl  is 
abroad,  the  tempter  came  too,  and  said  something  to  Brokey, 
and  he  went  and  thrust  his  hand  under  the  sleeping  miner's 
pallet  and  drew  forth  his  buckskin  bag,  and  the  Vigilance 
Committee  took  him — they  took  Brokey  and  hung  him  on  the 
limb  of  a  tree ! 


CHAPTER  XVII. 


THE  MENACE  OF  THE  GREAT  R[VER. 

As  the  river  was  a  fruitful  source  of  apprehension  to  my 
mother  in  the  summer,  it  was  none  the  less  so  in  the  winter 
time.  During  Saturday  holidays  the  boys  were  out  on  the  frozen 
river  in  crowds.  Frequently  dangerous  air-holes  were  in  close 
proximity  to  our  skating-places.  In  addition  to  these,  the  noise 
of  the  contracting  ice,  sounding  like  the  sullen  roar  of  distant 
artillery  as  the  mercury  descended  rapidly  toward  the  bulb, 
often  filled  her  startled  senses  with  foreboding.  On  a  Saturday 
night  of  a  biting  cold  winter  all'  her  flock  were  safe  in  the 
fold  except  her  oldest  boy,  Porter.  The  short  winter  day  had 
closed  and  no  word  of  him.  None  of  us  had  seen  him  since 
the  early  morning.  All  that  was  known  of  him  was  that  he 
and  George  McKinney  were  seen  skating  on  the  river.  At 
the  close  of  an  hour  after  dark  my  mother  sat  down  in  tears 
and  would  not  be  comforted.  She  had  sent  word  to  my  father 
at  the  store  and  he  had  consulted  with  uncle  John  McKinney 
and  the  two  had  left  town  walking  south  along  the  river  shore, 
but  my  mother  knew  nothing  of  that.  Another  hour  of  sus 
pense  and  anguish  wore  on,  at  the  end  of  which,  dazed  by 
mental  suffering,  not  knowing  what  she  did,  she  drew  a  thin 
shawl  over  her  shoulders  and  went  out  on  the  porch,  holding 
byself  and  younger  brother,  Ewell,  by  the  hand,  and  stojd 
trembling  and  tearful,  on  the  point  of  plunging  into  the  dark 
ness  and  cold,  she  knew  not  whither — my  cousin  Sarah  plead 
ing  with  and  trying  to  comfort  her.  She  was  gotten  back  into 
the  house,  where  she  sank  down  unconscious.  The  neighbors 
surrounded  her,  and  the  doctor  came  in,  and  at  length  my  fath- 


Recollections  of  Pioneer  and  Army  Life.  93 

er  returned  with  the  missing  boy.  The  parents  had  gone  on 
down  the  river  shore  till  they  met  the  boys  returning  over  the 
ice  on  their  skates  from  Burlington,  twelve  miles  below. 

This  brother  years  ago  followed  his  mother  into  the 
great  unknown.  In  a  note  bearing  the  date  of  April  29,  1881. 
received  by  mail  from  his  home  in  Minnesota,  he  says :  "We 
were  sadly  pained  to  receive  the  news  of  our  own  poor  mother. 
If  there  is  any  reward  in  the  next  world  for  a  true  and  trust 
ing  woman,  she,  I  know,  will  receive  it.  I  saw  her  a  little  over 
a  year  ago  and  knew  she  could  not  last  long." 

Lying  before  me  are  two  old  letters  and  a  lock  of  gray 
hair.  It  startles  me  to  look  at  the  dates.  Can  it  be  that  thirty 
years  have  sped  away  since  my  mother's  death?  For  sixty  cent 
uries,  more  or  less,  man  has  been  admonished  that  time  is  a 
swift  courser;  but,  heedless  and  forgetful,  we  have  to  be  cease 
lessly  pricked  by  the  arrows  of  the  arch  tnemy  to  keep  us  in 
remembrance  of  the  fact.  Here  is  a  letter  written  by  an  only 
sister,  who  was  my  mother's  companion  foi  so  long  a  time  and 
almost  her  only  solace  in  her  last  hours.  Without  doubt  the  re 
moval  of  my  parents  to  Florida  prolonged  their  lives,  but  it 
was  a  great  hardship  for  my  mother  to  be  removed  so  far 
from  her  kindred  and  life-long  associations.  The  obvious  re 
suit  of  this  isolation  was  to  bring  mother  and  daughter  closer 
together,  if  possible,  than  ever  before.  Whet*  the  daughter 
came,  therefore,  to  have  a  home  of  her  own,  the  mother  was 
left  alone  indeed!  This  my  sister  dutifully  tried  to  remedy 
by  going  back  and  forth  from  the  city  as  often  as  possible. 
She  explains  in  the  letter  from  which  I  quote :  "I  had  been 
staying  with  mother  a  few  days  and  left  on  Tuesday  after 
noon,  and  Wednesday  night  she  was  taken  with  a  bad  pain  in 
her  side  and  could  not  lie  down;  had  to  sit  up  all  night 
Thursday  morning  father  sent  for  me.  I  went  to  her  as  soon 
as  I  could,  and  found  her  very  sick.  She  could  only  lie  down 
a  minute  or  two  at  a  time,  and  father  had  arranged  a  sup 
port  so  she  could  rest  as  easily  as  possible  in  a  sitting  posture. 


94  Recollections  of  Pioneer  and  Army  Life. 

After  dinner  I  went  in  to  sit  with  her.  and  father  said  he 
would  go  out  and  see  what  the  men  were  doing  in  the  garden. 
Mother  said  she  would  like  to  sit  in  the  rocking-chair  while 
I  arranged  the  bed  for  her.  Having  clone  this  service  for  her, 
she  said  she  could  not  sit  up  any  longer;  for  me  to  lay  her 
down.  I  did  so,  and  she  closed  her  eyes  and  seemed  to  go  to 
sleep.  I  rested  a  little  while  and  then  walked  quietly  out  on 
the  balcony  so  I  should  not  waken  her.  Having  put  Roy  to 
sleep,  I  returned  to  mother  and  spoke  to  her;  laid  my  hand 
gently  on  her  wasted  form  and  felt  her  pulse,  and  found  that 
she  had  passed  away.  You  can  hardly  understand  my  anguish 
when  I  discovered  the  truth  concerning  her."  My  mother's 
was  the  initial  mound  in  the  new  city  (Jacksonville,  Fla.; 
cemetery,  around  which  a  great  company  has  since  gathered. 
Two  years  afterward,  in  his  seventy-fifth  year,  my  father  died, 
walking  in  the  yard  with  his  cane  in  his  hand. 

During  the  summer  vacation  when  I  was  about  twelve 
years  of  age,  I  was  hunting  down  at  Grizzly  Island,  where  my 
father  owned  timber  lands  and  had  a  woodyard  and  flat-boat 
and  men  employed,  cutting  cordwood.  When  an  up-stream 
steamer  called,  the  flatboat  (which  was  kept  loaded)  was  loosed 
from  its  mooring  and  taken  in  tow  by  the  steamer,  which  trans 
ferred  the  wood  to  her  own  deck  as  she  proceeded  on  her  way. 
When  the  transfer  had  been  completed,  the  woodboat  was  cast 
off  and  floated  back  to  the  landing  to  be  reloaded  for  the  next 
steamer.  By  boarding  the  steamer  I  was  saved  a  walk  of 
several  miles  home.  On  the  day  aforesaid  I  was  standing  on 
the  gunwale  of  the  woodboat  nearest  the  steamer  as  she  came 
plowing  her  way  under  a  full  head  of  steam.  The  force  of 
the  deep,  strong  current  brought  the  woodboat  square  across 
the  bow  of  the  steamer,  which  struck  it  a  stunning  blow  and 
knocked  me,  like  a  shot  from  a  rifle,  into  the  deep,  dark  water 
below,  between  the  boats,  which  were  rapidly  swinging  in  to 
gether  over  the  spot  where  I  had  sunk  out  of  sight.  The  first 
I  knew  I  was  struggling  in  the  water  and  could  see  the  light 


Recollections  of  Pioneer  and  Army  Life.  95 

as  I  swam  to  the  surface  The  mate  on  the  deck  of  the  steamer 
was  watching  for  me,  and  when  I  came  up.  he  had  two  men 
hanging  over  the  gunwale  of  the  steamer"  with  hands  extended 
toward  me,  and  when  I  got  near  enough,  they  grappled  me  and 
pulled  me  to  the  deck  with  my  hat  still  on  my  head  and  none 
the  worse,  except  being  well  chilled  through  before  I  got  home. 


CHAPTER  XVIII. 


A  RIDE  WITH  ONE  OF  THE  CLOTH. 

Our  home  was  the  headquarters  for  the  visiting  preachers 
of  the  old  Scotch  church.  As  a  matter  of  fact,  my  parents 
ran  a  sort  of  "Preachers'  Inn,"  and  I  can  hardly  recall  a  time 
when  some  of  the  cloth  were  not  enjoying  themselves  at  my 
mother's  table.  I  looked  at  them  askance,  for  the  prayers  were 
long.  They  seemed  to  feel  bound,  under  the  claims  of  hospi 
tality,  to  repay  my  mother  for  her  good  cuisine  by  ranging 
over  seas  and  across  continents  in  search  of  material  to 
lengthen  out  the  petitions  to  the  point  she  would  accept  as 
liberal  compensation  for  the  free  lunch.  While  the  debt  was 
being  paid  I  usually  fell  over  dead  asleep. 

One  day  Tom  Cunningham  came  along.  You  remember 
Tom?  He  was  the  "flash"  preacher  of  the  old  church  when 
I  was  merging  into  my  "teens."  He  had  one  of  the  best  jobs 
under  the  paternal  care  of  the  Western  Synod — the  pastorate 
of  a  big  congregation  in  St.  Louis.  It  was  a  sunny  morning 
in  June  when  Tom  got  off  the  Northern-line  packet  at  out 
landing  and  met  father  at  the  gate,  just  starting  down  town. 
I  was  standing  in  the  yard,  stunned  by  the  appearace  of  the 
dapper  young  preacher  in  his  white  silk  hat,  nobby  garmenture, 
and  winning  ways.  For  a  minute  or  two  my  father,  the 
family,  I — even  I — everybody — was  thoioughly  saturated  by 
a  spray  of  Tom's  choicest  salutions.  When  the  sign  was 
about  right,  Tom  sprang  his  request.  I  never  knew  one  of 
those  preachers  that  did  not  have  a  deep-felt  want  of  some 
kind.  Tom  had  a  good  old  father  and  mother  out  on  a  farm, 
northwest  of  Monmouth,  and  could  my  father  land  him  on  the 
spot?  Father  could  do  that,  or  anything  else,  one  of  the 


Recollections  of  Pioneer  and  Army  Life.  97 

preachers  of  "our  church"  asked  him  to  do.  Yes;  he  had  a 
horse  and  buggy  and  a  boy,  and  the  boy  was  listening,  and 
heard  his  father  acquiesce  in  the  plan.  It  was  the  boy  that 
was  always  called  on  to  handle  the  preachers,  and  he  's  han 
dled  his  share  of  'em.  I  got  out  the  nice  buggy  with  old 
Codum.  Cod  it  in  in  Latin  means  "heaven."  What  better  than 
Ccelum  to  haul  the  man  who  was  directing  the  world  to  the 
port  after  which  he  was  named.  Good  enough — we  started, 
not  for  Paradise,  but  for  the  preferred  landing  at  Father  Cun 
ningham's  in  Warren  County.  Tom  was  voluble,  and  the 
landscape  bright  with  the  tender  spring  verdure,  and  every 
thing  took  on  new  beauty  as  seen  through  the  eyes  of  the 
young  preacher  from  the  city,  who  was  in  a  state  bordering 
on  ecstasy  as  we  jogged  along.  Betimes  we  pulled  up  at  the 
gate  of  a  farm-house  where  the  roses  clambered  over  the 
entrance  and  the  moss-covered  bucket  invited  man  and  beast 
to  refreshment.  There  was  a  pause  of  some  minutes  if  Tom 
came  in  contact  with  some  of  the  fair  young  faces  of  the  house 
hold,  which  gave  opportunity  for  an  exchange  on  the  trans 
cendent  loveliness  of  everything  when  you  "feel  that  way," 
and  when  you'  don't  "feel  that  way"  everything  is  a  theory  and 
not  a  condition.  My  distinguished  companion's  exuberance 
was  the  counterpart  of  the  affluence  of  nature  in  the  most 
hopeful  month  in  the  year.  He  could  not  repress  himself. 
He  became  more  communicative,  even  confidential,  with  every 
mile  accomplished.  He  had  a  load  on  his  mind  and  he  must 
ease  himself  by  making  me  a  partner  in  his  joys.  He  told  me 
all  about  it.  He  was  in  love !  In  a  few  choice  phrases  he 
told  me  all  about  it,  how  divinely  fair  she  was.  And  then  she 
had  a  further  charm  not  universal  among  expectant  bride.v 
She  had  a  rich  "Pop,"  think  of  that!  Tom  thought  about  it 
every  day,  and  every  hour  in  the  day,  and  every  minute  in 
the  hour — poor  young  preacher !  She  was  sixteen  he  said 
To  head  off  all  rivals,  Tom  had  "cast  his  fly"  early.  Having 
secured  his  catch,  he  had  nothing  to  do  but  to  play  with  it 
until  she  had  reached  her  majority,  then  land  his  prize.  The 


98  Recollections  of  Pioneer  and  Army  Life. 

children  of  light  are  as  wise  as  the  children  of  this  world  in 
some  things!  It  is  seven  and  fifty  years  since  I  took  that  ride 
with  Tom  and  it  is  little  less  than  that  since  I  saw  him  the 
last  time.  It  was  on  the  day  in  1859  when  William  H.  Seward 
made  his  bid  in  Chicago  for  the  vote  of  the  young  West  for 
the  Presidency.  Quite  unexpectedly  I  caught  a  mere  glimpse 
of  him  on  the  street.  The  young  St.  Louis  wife  was  with  the 
angels,  and  Tom  had  a  second  one,  leaning  joyfully  on  his 
arm  as  they  tripped  away  through  the  crowd.  On  what  seas 
sails  his  barque  now,  or  is  poor  Tom  a-cold? 

The  limits  assigned  to  these  pages  preclude  the  interest 
that  attaches  to  the  lads  identified  by  birth  with  the  early  his 
tory  of  the  town.  Suffice  it  that  John  M.  Fuller,  Esq.,  a  staunch 
supporter  of  the  great  cause,  took  an  honest  pride  in  his  sons, 
but  the  one  that  gave  the  least  promise  led  all  the  rest.  The 
rather  delicate,  freckle-faced  lac  learned  a  trade,  and  the 
knowledge  of  tools  gave  facility  in  the  handling  of  agricult 
ural  implements  for  one  of  our  great  Illinois  manufactories 
which  led  to  position  and  a  competence.  George  Fuller  sits 
now  among  the  commercial  princes  of  the  earth,  and,  what  is 
better,  his  exemplary  Christian  character  puts  to  shame  the 
unbeliever  and  the  scoffer.  I  cannot  refrain  from  a  passing 
allusion  to  two  others  of  the  contemporaries  of  my  youth : 
Tom  Scott — "our  Tom,"  as  he  is  affectionately  called,  and 
Horace  Bigelow,  who  led  me  in  age  by  a  year  or  two.  Both 
have  won  a  fair  share  of  worldly  fame  and  fortune  in  the 
face  of  adverse  conditions,  and  none  of  my  early  friends  are 
more  worthy. 

The  "Q"  railroad,  or  Peoria  and  Oquawka,  as  the  charter 
read,  was  completed  from  the  east  shore  of  the  Mississippi, 
opposite  Burlington,  up  through  the  Henderson  County  bluffs, 
in  the  summer  of  1854,  and  the  company  on  the  4th  day  of 
July  ran  an  excursion  train  from  the  river  to  the  groves  along 
the  hills,  the  terminus  being  at  Ward's  mill,  where  an  old-time 
barbecue  was  held — the  pit  dug  and  the  ox  roasted,  with  such 


Recollections  of  Pioneer  and  Army  Life.  99 

side  dishes  as  the  people  chose  to  bring.  The  train  was  made 
up  of  platform  (dirt)  cars,  with  plank  seats.  A  large  crowd 
took  advantage  of  this  opportunity  to  take  their  first  ride  on 
a  railroad  train.  Junketing  parties  were  let  off  anywheie  they 
chose  among  the  natural  groves  along  South  Henderson  Creek , 
those  in  charge  of  the  train  accommodating  themselves  to  the 
whims  of  the  people  in  that  respect.  Some  of  these  small 
parties,  with  their  lunch-baskets  and  hampers  of  champagne, 
showed  greater  nimbleness  in  getting  off  the  train  in  the  morn 
ing  than  they  were  able  to  exhibit  in  getting  on  again  in  the 
evening. 


CHAPTER  XIX. 


THE  BLOOMER  COSTUME,  THI;  CRINOLINE  DISTURBANCE. 
AND  OTHER  MATTERS. 

One  of  the  great  sensations  in  the  town  was  the  advent 
of  the  "Bloomer"  costume.  When  it  first  crossed  the  disk  oi 
fashion,  the  young  misses  throughout  the  country  craned  their 
necks  till  they  nearly  pulled  them  out  of  joint  staring  at  it, 
and  the  staid  matrons  had  to  put  on  their  glasses  to  make  it 
out.  But  the  weakness  of  human  nature  to  grab  at  every  new- 
style  met  with  a  perceptible  balk  as  the  Bloomer  tide  rolled 
westward.  The  Yellow  Banks  were  agitated  as  never  before 
over  the  question  of  trousers  becoming  the  wearing  apparel 
for  both  sexes,  with  only  such  modifications  as  modesty  might 
suggest.  At  the  last  it  assumed  the  form  of  give  and  take. 
To  maintain  the  judicial  balance,  the  men  thought  it  would  be 
correct  to  adorn  their  breeches  with  some  of  the  trimmings 
heretofore  in  exclusive  use  by  the  ladies ;  while  the  sewing 
societies  of  the  town  almost  broke  up  in  a  row  over  the  adop 
tion  of  hip  pockets.  Ed  Ray,  as  the  strenuous  advance  agent 
of  the  new  style,  ordered  fringes  around  the  bottoms  of  his 
new  trousers ;  while  Luke  Strong,  as  a  Miss  Nancy,  occupy 
ing  a  position  between  the  rival  parties  in  interest,  had  a  row 
of  steel  cut  buttons  sewed  on  the  seams  of  his'n.  The  new 
fad  was  making  progress  after  all !  The  ladies  took  courage, 
but  who  should  take  the  first  plunge?  By  and  by  it  leaked 
out.  The  garments  were  being  made.  An  expert  seamstress 
had  'em  on  the  way,  seven-ninths  completed,  and  she  would 
have  them  ready  to  launch  the  next  Sunday  for  church.  There 
would  be  new  millinery  attachments  and  everything  in  rapid- 


Recollections  of  Pioneer  and  Army  Life.  101 

fire  order.  There  was  an  excess  of  joy  throughout  the  pur 
lieus  of  the  Yellow  Banks.  Everybody  hoped  it  would  be  a 
pleasant  day.  For  once  in  the  history  of  the  town,  the  people 
had  a  pious  spell,  and  all  with  one  accord  brushed  up  their 
religion,  and  said  they  were  going  to  attend  the  services.  The 
eventful  day  dawned  at  last — a  sunny  summer  day.  >Services 
were  held  in  the  court-house,  and  as  the  tribes  went  thither 
the  windows  were  packed  with  noses  flattened  against  rhe 
panes  to  see  the  pants  go  by !  Crum  Mathews  was  in  com 
mand  ;  but  as  to  the  particular  frills  and  the  fit  of  the  calico 
pantaloons,  ask  any  of  the  old-timers.  They  can  tell  you  all 
about  it. 

The  Crinoline  atmospheric  disturbance  which  followed  in 
due  succession  equalled  that  of  Free  Silver  under  ''Coin"  Har 
vey  in  '96,  and  they  were  alike  in  the  dependence  upon  wind 
for  their  exploitation ;  the  more  you  talked  against  them — the 
more  wind  you  raised — the  greater  the  increase  in  circulation 
It  was  dangerous  for  mere  man  (the  old  man  of  the  house) 
to  suggest  to  his  son  that  the  hoops  on  the  rain-barrel  needed 
mending.  The  daughters  of  the  household  took  the  slur  and 
drove  the  male  beasts  away  with  a  stick  of  stove-wood.  Hoops 
got  to  be  such  a  necessity  that  an  order  for  groceries  was  seldom 
issued  that  did  not  include  a  skirt  of  the  approved  pattern. 
The  grocer  had  the  latest  in  stock,  and  the  hardware  man  did 
not  consider  his  purcases  complete  without  assorted  sizes  of 
the  common  and  the  patented  articles.  They  hun<?  like  gigantic 
Chinese  lanterns  swinging  from  the  awnings  of  enterprising 
dry  goods  houses,  and  the  town  corporations  were  in  a  condi 
tion  of  chronic  defense  against  suits  for  damages  by  men  in 
a  hurry  to  catch  the  train  whose  feet  were  caught  in  the  meshes 
of  a  cast-off  hoop-skirt  thrown  into  the  street  to  trip  the 
unwary. 

In  those  days  came  Queen  Victoria  looking  like  a  dirig 
ible  balloon,  and  Mrs.  Lincoln  (poor  Mary),  when  she  appear 
ed  on  state  occasions,  a  miniature  replica  of  the  dome  of  the 


io2  Recollections  of  Pioneer  and  Army  Life. 

Capitol.  Lord  Lyons  and  the  other  gilded  gentry  of  the  effete 
monarchies  had  to  stand  out  under  the  dripping  eave-troughs. 

In  the  woods  one  day  on  Cedar  Creek,  with  my  uncle 
James  Giles,  he  asked  me  if  my  teacher  had  ever  given  me  for 
a  copy  the  line,  "The  eagle's  flight  is  out  of  sight."  I  an 
swered  that  he  had,  and  he  said  to  me,  "Look  up  there  and  you 
will  see  the  eagle  now  in  his  flight."  It  was  a  clear  sunny 
day,  and  I  was  eager  to  see  the  national  bird  looking  his  do 
minion  over.  I  scanned  the  sky  with  a  boy's  keen  eye,  but  was 
disappointed.  I  looked  for  a  large  bird,  which  I  thought  might 
be  easily  seen.  Then  my  uncle  said  to  me,  "You  will  see  only 
a  speck  moving  in  a  great  circle."  After  some  further  search, 
I  found  it.  No  incident  in  nature  in  all  my  life,  certainly  not 
in  my  younger  days,  impressed  me  more  deeply,  save  perhaps 
the  comet  of  '58,  the  total  eclipse  of  the  sun  in  '69,  or  the 
descent  of  an  immense  meteorite  in  '73,  in  Iowa,  a  copper- 
colored  globe  of  fire.  The  majesty  of  that  flight  in  the  far 
ether !  The  bird  seemed  in  no  hurry.  A  sentinel  in  the  third 
heaven,  it  seemed  to  have  eternity  itself  in  which  to  make  one 
of  its  grand  rounds.  Nothing  had  so  completely  captivated 
the  boy's  imagination  as  the  bird  that  dared  to  look  in  at  the 
sun's  open  door  and  feel  the  breath  of  his  furnace  fires.  My 
uncle  suggested  to  me  that  the  bird  from  its  far  eyrie  could 
see  across  many  States,  and  that  the  energy  of  its  vision  was 
so  great  that  a  rabbit  hopping  along  the  ground  would  be  an 
easy  mark  for  it. 

Almost  all  American  families,  especially  of  the  farmer 
class,  in  the  course  of  a  generation  own  some  fine  horses — 
draft  or  steppers.  If  not  natural  horsemen,  they  get  the  over 
flow,  which  not  infrequently  contains  some  speedy  animals. 
I  believe  America  has  the  best  cavalry  in  the  world,  because 
we  have  the  best  horses,  and  the  most  of  'em,  and  the  best 
riders.  Englishmen  and  Germans,  as  a  rule,  are  too  pot-gutted 
for  cavalry.  Take  a  thousand  Germans,  as  they  run,  from 
civil  life,  and  they  are  the  most  awkward  riders  on  earth.  As 
we  are  to-day  and  have  been,  good  horsemanship  is  a  national 


Recollections  of  Pioneer  and  Army  Life.  103 

characteristic.  My  brother  Marion  owned  two  fine  steppers 
at  different  times.  They  were  so  fast  they  were  at  the  quarter- 
pole  before  they  started.  Some  of  my  happiest  hours  were 
spent  in  the  very  early  morning  riding  out  behind  one  of  these 
flyers  over  a  good  country  road  in  the  fall  of  the  year  with 
my  brother,  who  was  proud  of  his  "typewriters."  Grouse  were 
plentiful — I  miss  them  so  much  from  the  Illinois  landscape 
nowadays !  and  from  the  top  of  almost  every  stake  along 
the  "worm"  fence  they  called  to  one  another  in  prolonged 
cadence  as  we  rode  along.  What  a  shame  it  is  we  can  hear 
them  no  longer!  The  too  zealous  sportsman  has  driven  them 
out,  and  our  wheat-fields  where,  they  fed  have  disappeared 
also.  Every  fall  after  I  had  reached  the  age  of  twelve  or 
thirteen  1  hauled  hundreds  of  bushels  of  winter  apples  in  from 
the  farm  to  those  who  had  ordered  them  at  the  Yellow  Banks 
and  in  Burlington.  As  I  drove  along  the  road  I  used  to  throw 
apples  at  the  "prairie  chickens,"  which  scorned  to  retreat  under 
my  bad  marksmanship. 


CHAPTER  XX. 


THE  MYSTERIOUS  STRANGER. 

He  was  a  gentleman  of  the  old  school.  He  liked  to  fix 
up.  He  was  as  fond  of  the  frills  of  the  toilet  as  a  young  miss. 
A  portion  of  each  day  was  devoted  to  the  placing  of  his  person 
in  dry  dock,  where  it  was  scraped  and  adorned  for  the  voyage 
to  the  morrow,  when  the  regulation  for  repairs  was  observed 
as  before.  The  Algonquin  would  have  said  that  his  hair  was 
yellow ;  it  was  parted  in  the  conventional  way,  but  when  the 
comb  reached  the  crown  it  descended  to  the  back  door,  part 
ing  the  locks  in  the  descent,  and  carefully  brushed  them  foi - 
ward  over  the  ears.  He  seemed  never  to  have  been  young, 
and  yet  he  was  not  old,  and  at  the  close  of  each  succeeding 
decade  he  seemed  about  the  same — a  sort  of  perennial  Beau 
Brummel.  He  was  the  only  man  in  town  who  went  habitually 
well  dressed,  day  by  day.  He  uniformly  shone  upon  the  street 
in  a  swallow-tail  coat,  silk  hat  and  white  vest ;  his  hands  neat 
ly  gloved,  brandishing  a  gold-headed  cane.  A  precious  stone 
of  uncertain  value  glanced  like  a  serpent's  eye  upon  his  fault 
less  front.  His  linen  was  Byronian,  his  ivory  plates  con 
spicuous  to  a  degree.  His  unequal  extremities  caused  a  dis 
tinct  but  slight  pause  in  his  gait.  He  illuminated  the  streets 
of  the  Yellow  Banks  for  many  years.  He  was  one  of  the  at 
tractions  ;  a  phenomenon  indeed ;  the  Mysterious  Stranger — 
all  in  one — of  the  town. 

He  was  the  unique  and  incomparable  host  of  the  old 
Pioneer  House  in  the  palmy  days  of  the  Fink  &  Walker 
mail-coaches ;  he  assisted  the  travelers  to  alight  from  the  tally- 
ho  ;  he  was  the  Sir  Walter  Raleigh  at  the  reception  of  his  lady 
guests;  he  was  old  J.  K.,  and  no  other;  a  shrewd  man  of  the 

104 


Recollections  of  Pioneer  and  Army  Life.  105 

world;  posted  on  the  news  of  the  day,  and  had  his  opinion  of 
George  Washington  and  everybody  else.  And  withal,  he 
seemed  suspiciously  well  versed  in  the  under-world — the  sub 
merged  tenth,  and  all  that  implies.  This  information,  how 
ever,  he  kept  carefully  to  himself.  He  was  never  known  to 
comment  on  it,  but  if  it  became  the  subject  of  conversation  in 
his  presence,  he  was  complacent,  serene,  disinterested,  Satanic. 
The  great  games  were  played  on  the  river  in  those  days,  from 
St.  Paul  to  New  Orleans;  chiefly  on  the  lower  Mississippi. 
The  big  stakes  and  the  guns  to  defend  them  were  on  the  tables 
in  the  gentlemen's  cabin.  But  the  Phenomeon  was  no  fighter ; 
he  had  what  was  better  for  him,  a  demoniac's  cunning,  sharper 
than  a  needle  point,  and  luck  came  his  way  sometimes ;  but  he 
was  too  cautious,  I  surmise,  for  a  successful  gambler.  He 
had  compensations.  If  Fortune  gave  him  the  cold  shoulder  at 
the  gaming-table,  he  brought  his  reserves  into  the  fight.  His 
touch  was  light  and  sure,  and  he  did  not  disdain  revenue  from 
any  source,  nor  object  to  it  in  small  amounts.  An  observing 
Boniface,  accustomed  to  study  his  guests,  can  create  opportun 
ities,  if  they  are  not  apparent.  For  many  years  he  paid  on 
demand,  and  shone  resplendent.  Other  men  aged  under  their 
burdens,  but  the  Phenomenon  carried  the  world  on  his  shoul 
ders  as  it  were  a  puff-ball. 

The  swell  society  functions  throughout  the  forties  and 
fifties  at  the  Yellow  Banks  were  held  at  the  Pioneer  House, 
which,  with  its  bold  river  front  and  shade  and  its  Corinthian 
columns,  affected  my  boyish  gaze  quite  like  the  Parthenon  is 
supposed  to  overwhelm  the  traveler.  The  great  semi-annual 
events  were  the  cotillion  parties,  or  "balls,"  as  they  were 
called  in  the  golden  far-gone  times.  There  was  a  noticeable 
stir  among  the  young  couples  when  the  date  was  announced 
for  the  next  one  forthcoming.  The  fair  ones  lapsed  into  a 
form  of  hysterics  over  what  they  were  to  wear;  they  ran 
across  the  street  the  back  way  and  compared  notes  about  it, 
breaking  out  into  fits  of  lunatic  laughter  at  their  own  quips. 


io5  Recollections  of  Pioneer  and  Army  Life. 

The  impending  social  convulsion  struck  the  hotel  kitchen  in 
advance  of  all  others,  and  the  staff  shoveled  up  pie  stuff  till 
the  stanchions  gave  way  and  the  chef  and  his  retinue  of  aids 
were  buried  under  a  landslide  of  raw  material. 

The  Nestor  of  hotel  managers,  our  imperial  J.  K.  was  on 
earth  in  his  best  form  on  these  great  occasions.  All  things 
being  in  readiness,  the  couples  began  to  arrive.  They  came  in 
all  sorts  of  vehicles  from  everywhere.  The  high-over-all  ton 
came  from  Keith sburg  and  Monmouth.  The  real  nickel-plate 
could  be  easily  distinguished  by  the  height  of  his  boot-heels. 
He  always  wore  boots  on  great  occasions.  To  wear  shoes  was 
plebeian.  He  scorned  the  suggestion.  The  more  "ply"  he 
could  persuade  the  cobbler  to  nail  onto  his  boot-heels,  if  only 
one  more  than  his  rival  displayed,  puffed  him  up  horribl). 
When  he  walked,  his  heels  struck  the  cobble-stones  some  sec 
onds  in  advance  of  his  toes,  if  the  latter  landed  at  all.  The 
women  of  1911  are  becoming  knee-sprung  by  the  revival  01 
this  barbarism.  The  man  afflicted  with  an  excess  of  boot- 
heels  when  I  was  a  boy — well,  his  head  ran  up  to  a  point  as 
his  heels  ran  down,  the  terminus  in  either  case  being  small. 
Having  acquired  knock-knees,  his  pace  along  the  sanded  floor 
was  painful  to  behold.  The  ball-room  of  the  ancient  hostelry 
was  well  proportioned  for  the  gayety  of  its  time,  and  it  tends 
to  sober  one  to  muse  in  silence  now  on  the  animated  scenes 
redolent  there  far  beyond  the  half-century  mark. 

On  these  occasions  the  early  settlers  got  together.  The 
ball  served  a  good  and  an  evil  purpose,  as  their  successors  do 
to  this  day.  There  were  many  reputable  people  at  these  gath 
erings,  and  Satan  came  also.  Virtue  came  clothed  in  the  lat 
est  fashion,  and  otherwise,  and  Vice  followed  her  example. 
Couples  from  up  the  creek  came  within  the  charmed  circle  of 
Terpsichore  not  in  the  best  tonsorial  form,  clothed  in  black 
satin  vests  venerable  for  service,  but  with  honest  dollars  in 
their  pockets  and  honest  purposes  in  their  hearts,  and  it  would 
have  been  well  if  all  had  gotten  home  in  the  gray  of  the  next 


Recollections  of  Pioneer  and  Army  Life.  107 

morning  with  a  conscience  equally  void  of  offense.  As  a  rule, 
there  was  an  odor  like  that  of  a  bad  circus  left  in  the  wake  of 
these  balls ;  the  livery-stable  crowd  prevailed,  and  the  atmos 
phere  had  a  horsey  taint.  At  the  upper  end  of  the  ball-room 
sat  the  orchestra  in  state.  The  first  violin  was  a  character. 
He  was  known  in  all  the  region  around,  and  was  considered 
indispensable  to  a  successful  function.  He  was  known  as  "The 
Man  that  Slept  on  His  Violin."  I  don't  know  that  he  had  any 
other  name.  Nobody  ever  heard  him  talk;  none  ever  saw  him 
awake !  He  went  to  sleep  fifty  years  before  Rip  Van  Winkle 
was  heard  of,  and  he  is  asleep  now — for  good.  He  was  an 
exceptional  character,  and  will  prove  exceptional  doubtless 
when  Gabriel  blows  his  horn,  and  sleep  on  regardless  of  what 
the  other  fellows  do.  He  was  playing  for  balls  when  Colum 
bus  discovered  America,  and  was  at  it  like  a  mere  sprig  of 
youth  when  I  was  a  boy.  When  they  got  ready  to  open  the  ball, 
they  just  gave  the  old  fellow  a  hunch  and  music  rose  voluptu 
ous.  His  touch  was  delicate,  resonant,  militant !  He  dreamed 
celestial  dreams  as  he  drew  his  bow  back  and  forth,  and  his 
head  dropped  in  dead  slumber  and  swayed  from  side  to  side 
as  he  played.  He  was  on  duty  from  the  opening  to  the  close. 
To  ease  himself  he  rose  at  times  to  his  feet,  asleep,  filling  the 
room  with  his  strains,  keeping  the  accompanying  instruments 
busy.  At  the  close  of  the  cotillion,  and  before  the  waltzer.-j 
began  t<>  spin,  he  would  imitate  the  nightingale.  The  bird 
struck  its  sweetest  note  far  up  in  the  twilight,  a  challenge  to 
every  bird  that  carried  a  harp  of  gold  in  its  throat ;  then  fol 
lowed  an  intricate  melody  too  subtle  in  its  method  and  triumph 
ant  in  its  strains  for  mortal  ken ;  the  note  of  victory  was  so 
complete  that  one  thought  it  would  cease,  nothing  more  being 
possible,  but  the  note  of  exaltation  continued  to  rise  till  the 
heavens  were  filled  with  its  glory,  and  all  the  angelic  choirs, 
the  answering  harps  of  seraphim  to  seraphim,  broke  forth  in 
jubilant  chorus.  And  still  the  wonder  grew  how  one  man  with 
that  frail  little  instrument  and  bow  could  so  entice  the  soul 


io8  Recollections  of  Pioneer  and  Army  Life. 

and  overpower  it  with  the  charms  of  music !  Knight  and  lady 
sat  still  under  the  spell  of  this  backwoods  master  of  the  violin. 
At  the  hour  of  twelve,  midnight,  the  guests  were  summoned 
to  Belshazzar's  feast,  for  which  tickets  were  required. 

Frontier  criminal  exploits  along  the  Mississippi  may  be 
supposed  to  have  reached  high-tide  about  the  time  of  the  mur 
der  of  Colonel  Davenport  at  his  home  on  Rock  Island  in  1845. 
The  minting  and  circulating  of  counterfeit  coin  was  one  of 
the  active  pursuits  of  these  river  rogues.  The  owner  of  the 
mint  was  not  always  the  most  successful  distributer  of  the 
"queer" ;  that  required  a  nimble  endowment  not  possessed  by 
every  man.  In  pioneer  days  the  Yellow  Banks  was  not  short 
on  original  genius  of  this  and  other  kinds.  Some  of  them  \vere 
birds  of  passage.  If  they  had  been  flushed,  they  came  in  from 
abroad  on  tired  wing,  more  or  less  bedraggled,  and  took  ref 
uge  at  "The  Catfish" — a  hostelry  that  started  with  the  best  in 
tentions,  but  fell  under  the  opprobrium  of  too  much  skin-fish 
on  the  table  d'hote,  a  pabulum  interdicted  by  the  old  Jewish 
economy,  nor  enthusiastically  popular  with  the  Gentile  as  a 
daily  ration,  and  for  that  reason  this  particular  travelers'  rest 
suffered  martyrdom  all  its  days.  "The  Catfish"  did  not  shelter 
the  game  birds,  however ;  they  stepped  softly  with  gum-shoe 
footfall  into  the  dove-cote  farther  up  the  hill.  The  Mysterious 
Stranger  took  care  of  them,  and  when  the  pursuit  had  lost  the 
trail  and  the  sky  seemed  propitious,  the  rascal  sallied  forth 
again,  and  the  Mysterious  Stranger  in  dandy  attire  went  with 
him.  The  guests  at  the  Pioneer  House  and  the  man-about-town 
noted  the  absence.  These  pilgrimages,  more  or  less  prolonged, 
occurred  at  intervals  annually.  They  came  to  be  a  feature. 
One  day  the  report  came  in  that  the  mail-coach  had  been  rob 
bed.  Alert  ears  kept  tab  on  the  absences  from  the  hotel  and  the 
coincidence  of  the  road  agents'  activity.  Well,  the  years  came 
and  went,  children  were  born  and  the  aged  passed  away,  but 
the  Mysterious  Stranger  held  steadily  on  his  course  like  an 
ocean  greyhound  through  fog  and  storm  and  ice-floes.  On  a 


Recollections  of  Pioneer  and  Army  Life.  109 

sunny  day  in  June  he  arrived  in  port.  The  air  was  balmy. 
The  world  had  been  clothed  anew  in  leafy  splendor  and  the 
great  river  flowed  serenely  on  to  the  sea  as  our  lives  flow  on 
into  that  vaster  eternity.  The  bush  was  full  of  happy  chil 
dren,  and  they  plucked  the  tender,  spongy,  half-formed  leal, 
surcharged  with  its  cardinal  tints,  and  placed  it  between  layers 
of  snowy  white  sheeting,  put  pressure  upon  it,  and  lo,  the  print 
of  the  leaf  delicately  transferred  to  the  cloth ;  and  as  the  chil 
dren  shouted  their  triumphs  to  each  other,  they  noted  the  Mys 
terious  Stranger  as  he  passed,  tapping  the  walk  with,  his  cane, 
and  then  the  long  step  and  the  short  step.  His  leathern  pocket- 
book  with  a  fold  and  a  tuck  was  gorged  with  bank-notes,  and 
the  Yellow  Banks  and  all  the  world  around  was  conscious  of 
a  great  change  going  on,  involving  the  Mysterious  Stranger 
and  all  his  neighbors.  The  Fink  &  Walker  mail-coaches  had 
ceased  to  run ;  the  railroad  carried  the  mails,  and  the  Pioneer 
House  was  no  longer  central  enough  for  travelers.  These  fact.- 
had  hardly  been  accepted  before  the  Eagle  House  was  open 
for  business  under  the  suave  welcome  of  its  distinguished 
host.  Now  came  some  brief  years  of  prosperity  when  Julius 
Gifford  ran  his  livery-stable  in  the  rear  of  Jamison  &  Moir's 
brick  block  and  Thad  Warner  hustled  his  mail  and  passenger 
hack  up  and  down  from  the  Junction  to  the  county  seat.  Thad 
remembered  the  thundering  display  of  the  Fink  &  Walker 
stage  when  it  made  the  grand  entry,  and  attempted  a  feeble 
imitation.  Thad  had  a  facial  trick  which  he  always  played 
when  he  wished  to  win  the  admiration  of  the  crowd.  He  could 
look  cross-eyed  at  will  and  he  had  a  distinguished  leer.  He 
had  other  crooked  accomplishments,  but  these  were  his  trump 
cards.  It  was  a  humiliating  drop  for  the  whole  town  when 
the  advance  of  civilization  on  the  frontier  compelled  it  to  ex 
change  the  pomp  of  other  days  for  Clifford's  two-horse  hack, 
but  Thad  conceived  himself  more  than  equal  to  the  amend. 
Driving  up  from  the  Junction  with  the  mail  in  the  evening,  on 
reaching  the  brow  of  Schuyler  Street  he  assumed  his  most 


iio  Recollections  of  Pioneer  und  .lnn\  Lijc. 

powerful  strabismus  stare,  and  with  an  artistic  flick  of  the 
whip  he  gave  his  two  old  plugs  to  understand  what  was  re 
quired  of  them,  and  down  they  came,  making  the  grand  curve 
at  Phelps'  corner  in  approved  style.  I  am  sure  the  old-timer 
falls  short  of  what  is  due  to  Thad  whenever  he  omits  to  shed 
a  few  tears  at  the  remembrance  of  that  performance. 

In  due  course  there  was  an  enlargement  of  the  household 
at  the  Eagle  House  by  the  addition  of  two  sons-in-law.  As  the 
increase  in  numbers  was  purely  ornamental,  there  was  no  in- 
cumbrance  in  the  way  of  additional  revenue.  This  made  hard 
sledding  for  the  Mysterious  Stranger.  There  is  hardly  any 
thing  in  this  present  evil  world  that  will  make  a  man's  face 
blanch  whiter  than  to  look  into  his  cash-box  and  find  it  empty. 
It  was  noticed  that  the  old  gentleman  was  less  spruce  than 
formerly.  The  broadcloth  was  getting  a  little  seedy ;  the  step 
less  springy,  and  Hope  sat  on  his  brow  less  securely.  The  in 
exorable  years  will  bind  the  best  of  us  hard  and  fast.  In  the 
early  morning  of  a  day  long  gone  the  early  riser  went  down 
to  the  river  shore  as  usual.  The  fresh  morning  air  cleared  his 
brain  and  his  heart,  and  there  was  something  like  the  finger 
of  Fate  in  the  mighty  river  that  rolled  ever  in  that  one  direc 
tion  in  which  we  all  are  going,  and  a  voice  seemed  to  say,  "That 
stream  cannot  turn  back  upon  its  course,  nor  can  you  return 
and  make  good  the  wasted  years."  The  town  breakfasted  as 
usual,  and  in  the  interval  of  going  and  returning  from  the 
morning  meal  the  "jimmy"  had  been  at  work  and  forced  an 
entrance  to  Phelps'  Bank.  The  safe  had  been  wrecked  and 
the  contents  taken — all  in  a  moment's  time,  and  silence  reigned. 
As  the  rising  sun  burst  upon  the  streets  he  who  kept  the  keys 
returned  to  the  scene  of  his  life-long  labors  to  find  the  evidence 
of  the  burglary — the  forced  entrance,  the  confusion  within,  the 
prints  of  feet  without.  The  first  thing  we  do  in  a  case  of  this 
kind  is  to  stare  in  unbelief.  Then  one  or  two  neighbors  come 
along,  and  we  point  to  the  havoc,  and  we  explain  that  when  we 
went  to  breakfast  all  was  as  usual.  In  a  few  minutes  the  town 


Recollections  of  Pioneer  and  Army  Life.  m 

awoke  to  what  had  been  done,  and  the  singular  thing  about 
it  all  was  that  while  few  glimpses,  or  none,  were  had  of  fig 
ures  going  or  coming,  the  mass  of  the  people  had  but  one 
opinion  as  to  the  idenity  of  the  robbers,  but  all  was  serene  at 
the  Eagle  House.  The  old  Mysterious  Stranger  was  there, 
supervising  the  first  meal  of  the  day.  The  household  seemed 
intact.  If  there  were  any  discrepancies,  they  were  not  noticed 
at  the  moment.  As  the  people  canvassed  the  situation  the  ex 
citement  increased.  After  some  consideration,  the  crowd  of 
citizens  as  if  by  common  impulse  went  to  the  Eagle  House.  T 
was  in  the  crowd,  along  with  all  the  boys  in  town,  and  I  stood 
at  the  head  of  the  cellar-way  when  Frank  A.  Dallam,  of  the 
Plaindealer,  led  the  searching  party,  thrust  his  hand  into  a  hole 
in  the  cellar  wall  and  brought  forth  a  double  handful  of  paper 
money.  There  was  a  shout  of  exultation,  not  so  much  over 
the  recovery  of  the  money,  but  at  everybody's  "I  told  you  so." 
The  additions  to  the  family  by  marriage  went  over  the  road. 
The  Mysterious  Stranger,  who  formulated  the  scheme  of  rob 
bery,  and  enticed  the  willing  tools  to  do  his  bidding — well,  the 
gold-headed  cane  thumped  the  walk  as  in  the  past,  followed 
by  the  long  step  and  the  short  step. 


CHAPTER  XXL 


THE  GHOST. 

On  a  dark  and  stormy  night  in  recent  years  a  physician, 
returning  from  a  midnight  professional  call  in  the  country, 
caught  a  glimpse  of  a  moving  taper  through  the  windows  ot 
the  Eagle  House,  when  it  was  unoccupied,  in  its  uncanny,  dis 
credited  old  age.  Having  left  his  conveyance  at  the  livery, 
on  his  way  up  town  his  curiosity  awoke  on  passing  in  front 
<of  the  deserted  hotel,  and  he  determined  to  go  in  and  quietly 
survey  the  premises.  Taking  a  station  at  the  window  through 
-which  he  had  seen  the  light,  he  silently  awaited  developments. 
He  had  no  better  company  at  first  than  a  mouse  gnawing  in 
the  wainsconting  or  an  occasional  rat  scurrying  along  the  dark 
passages.  At  a  moment  when  he  was  not  looking  directly 
through  the  window  into  the  interior  of  the  building,  he  caught 
a  glimpse  of  a  dim  tongue-like  flame  (a  mere  wisp  of  light) 
as  it  quickly  passed  out  of  view,  going  from  one  passage-way 
into  another,  and  along  with  it  a  slight  noise  which  he  could 
not  make  out.  Putting  his  ear  to  a  small  opening  in  the  cor 
ner  of  the  windowpane  where  a  bit  of  glass  an  inch  square 
had  fallen  out,  he  listened  with  an  awakened  interest.  He 
was  rewarded  in  a  few  moments  by  a  slight  noise,  scarcely 
audible,  like  the  thump  of  a  cane  on  the  floor,  tapping  at  reg 
ular  intervals,  accompanied  by  the  mere  whisper  of  a  foot 
fall,  a  hesitating,  regular,  but  soft  footfall,  as  of  a  long  step 
and  a  short  step.  In  a  moment  :.t  seemed  to  be  descending  a 
stairway.  The  doctor  stood  with  his  back  to  the  outside  cel 
lar-way,  which  stood  wide  open,  dismal  and  damp.  The  foot 
steps  seemed  to  be  coming  nearer  in  that  direction  and  he 
crouched  and  peered  down  into  the  cellar,  a  part  of  the  in 
terior  of  which  at  intervals,  by  the  glow  of  intermittent  light- 
112 


Recollections  of  Pioneer  and  Army  Life.  113 

ning,  he  could  see — the  whole,  in  fact,  of  one  side  of  the  wall. 
He  could  hear  the  gentle  tap  of  the  cane  and  the  footfalls  as 
they  reached  the  bottom  of  the  stairs.  The  doctor,  being  a 
man  of  iron  nerve,  was  not  in  the  least  disconcerted,  and  re 
lated  this  incident  afterward  in  the  assured,  easy  way  char 
acteristic  of  him.  The  invisible  Presence  then  strode  across 
the  cellar  floor,  diagonally,  to  a  small,  irregular  hole  in  the 
wall  in  full  view  of  the  silent  visitor  on  the  outside.  The 
taper  cast  a  pale,  peculiar  light  and  moved  unsteadily  about 
as  if  held  in  an  invisible  hand,  while  a  real  hand  (pale  and 
finely  formed)  reached  into  the  hole  in  the  wall,  withdrew, 
and — here  a  large  loose  stone  under  the  doctor's  foot  rolled 
and  fell  with  a  crash  into  the  cellar.  Instantly  the  Presence 
disappeared,  and  the  doctor  withdrew,  determined  to  investi 
gate  later  on. 

Ghosts  are  supposed  to  stand  their  ground,  but  this  one 
cut  sticks  for  the  happy  hunting-grounds,  breaking  all  rule-; 
for  good  behavior,  aU  records  for  speed,  and  I  fear  will  seri 
ously  impair  the  confidence  of  my  reader  in  this  and  all  other 
ghosts.  The  details  of  this  well -accredited  experience  were 
never  related  to  mere  than  one  person.  The  doctor,  ordinarily 
uncommunicative,  was  particularly  so  on  a  matter  which  hi^ 
senses  could  not  readily  credit.  To  one  close  friend,  however, 
the  doctor,  before  his  death,  gave  the  minute  phases  in  full  01 
this  extraordinary  occurrence,  and  discussed  in  a  way  peculiar 
ly  his  own  his  beliefs  respecting  the  gulf  which  marks  the 
boundary  of  another  world  than  ours,  and  the  probabilities 
of  an  interchange  therewith.  On  two  occasions  subsequently, 
months  intervening,  the  doctor  verified  the  main  features  of 
his  first  noctuinal  visit  to  the  deserted  caravansary.  During 
the  first  of  the  last  two  visits,  on  a  night  of  arctic  cold  and 
darkness,  he  saw  the  taper  in  the  old  office  of  the  hotel  in  a 
state  of  strange  agitation.  The  light,  as  before,  seemed  to  be 
carried  obout  by  an  unseen  hand  and  the  movements  of  the 
pantomime  seemed  to  answer  plainly  to  an  ungoverned  pas- 


ii4  Recollections  of  Pioneer  and  Army  Life. 

sion.  It.  would  svvoop  down  at  limes  as  if  in  a  great  rage- 
then  tremble  as  if  in  a  paroxysm  of  anger;  the  drawers  of 
the  desk  would  open  and  shut  with  a  slam-like  movement,  and 
yet  thcv  made  no  uoise.  The  lid  of  the  old-fashioned  desk 
lifted  like  the  jaws  of  Leviathan  and  closed  with  an  apparent 
snap,  but  there  v;as  only  silence,  and  no  other  visible  move 
ment  except  that  of  the  little  taprr.  In  a  moment  the  noise 
of  the  cane  passed  through  the  doorway  into  the  passage,  tap 
ping  quickly  along  in  company  with  the  long  step  and  the 
short  snep.  On  a  Christmas  night,  for  the  last  time,  the  taper 
was  seen  at  the  head  of  the  long  dining-room  table.  In  the 
darkness,  relieved  by  the  dim  rays  of  the  quarter-moon,  it  was 
seen  apparently  in  the  hands  of  one  doing  the  honors.  It 
seemed  to  be  bestowing  the  compliments  of  the  season  upon 
the  invisible  guests  seated  to  grace  the  holiday  occasion.  The 
taper  raised  high  and  bowed  low,  as  if  mine  host  interlarded 
his  speech'  with  the  good  cheer  and  pungent  raillery  with 
which  the  year's  chiefest  festival  is  usually  adorned.  At  times 
one  might  suppose  the  company  to  have  broken  out  in  con 
tinuous  quavers  and  semi-quavers  of  laughter,  the  taper  cut 
such  curious  antics,  as  it  passed  with  measured  pauses  down 
one  side  of  the  festal  board  and  up  along  the  other  side.  Ar 
riving  at  the  head  of  the  table  once  more,  the  little  flame  made 
three  grand  flourishes,  from  which  one  might  suppose  the 
Mysterious  Stranger  delivered  his  valedictory;  reviewed  his 
three-score  years  and  ten  upon  this  earth,  his  meteoric  suc 
cesses,  his  humiliations,  and  the  vanity  of  it  all ! 


CHAPTER  XXII. 


OVERLAND  TO  FOUNTAIN 

During  my  school-days  at  Monmouth  I  made  an  overland 
trip  with  Robert  Wilson  McClaughry,  a  well-known  fellow- 
student,  now  a  distinguished  authority  on  penology  and  war 
den  of  the  Government  Prison  at  Fort  Leavenworth,  whose 
fame  is  founded  on  exhaustive  study,  and  a  career  of  many 
years  of  supervisory  control  of  some  of  the  great  prisons  and 
reformatory  institutions  of  our  country.  The  journey  was 
made  in  a  single-rig  livery  conveyance  of  the  subdued  pattern 
of  those  days.  Mack  called  the  horse  "Bones,"  which  was 
illumkiatingly  descriptive,  if  not  elegant.  The  steed  was  tall 
and  his  ribs  shone  resplendent:  peace  to  his  ashes,  for  he  must 
have  died  a  long  time  ago.  Our  destination  was  Fountain 
Greeo,  in  Hancock  County.  I  am  sure  it  was  a  poet  that 
named  that  hamlet;  anyway  we  were  going  there  if  "Bones" 
and  good  fortune  could  help  us  out  in  a  bad  job.  In  the  old  clays 
that  are  not  forgotten  the  flat  prairies  of  our  dear  old  "Sucker" 
State  were  in  a  condition  of  chronic  moisture,  and  when  a 
lane  was  forced  on  a  community  and  the  traveler  could  not 
muster  courage  to  throw  his  neighbor's  fence  down  and  drive 
over  the  corn  crop,  that  portion  of  the  interurban  subway  be 
came  anywhere  from  one  foot  deep  to  a  bottomless  bog.  Well, 
the  brace  of  travelers  were  not  responsible  for  the  state  of 
the  Union,  nor  for  the  condition  of  the  roads  of  the  common 
wealth,  so  we  made  bold  and  drove  gleefully  south  over  the 
level  prairie  until  we  came  upon  the  kind  of  obstruction  noted 
in  the  few  cautious  words  just  set  down.  At  this  point  we 
made  a  pause;  then  the  travelers  glanced  naively  at  each 
other:  then  at  the  landscape;  then  at  "Bones."  I  suppose  the 


no  Recollections  of  Pioneer  and  Army  Life. 

instant  before  a  Jap  commits  hari-kiri  upon  his  honorable  per 
son — for  he  professes  great  contempt  for  this  mortal  existence 
— he  is  just  as  happy  as  he  ever  was  in  his  life.  I  suppose  also, 
when  one  jumps  from  a  spring-board  for  the  bottom  of  the 
Colorado  Canyon  two  miles  below,  that  he  is  as  serenely  com 
fortable  at  the  precise  second  in  advance  of  his  pre-determined 
leap  as  one  ever  could  be  here  below.  It  certainly  is  after, 
and  not  before,  a  Frenchman  "sneezes  in  the  basket"  that  he 

feels  "the  slings  and  arrows 
of  outrageous  fortune."  So 
here,  looking  ahead  upon 
the  long  stretch  of  liquid 
mud  ahead  of  them,  the 
travelers  were  not  in  the 
least  dismayed ;  on  the  oth 
er  hand,  your  humble  serv 
ant,  who  bore  aloft  the  rib 
bons,  proudly  said  "cluck" 
to  "Bones"  and  advanced 
confidently.  We  sank  a 
foot  the  first  length,  the 
second  length  out  we  were 
up  to  the  axles,  at  half  of 
•-BONES-AT  THE  BOTTOM  OF  THE  BOG  the  third  length  "Bones"  had 
difficulty  getting  his  feet  up  out  of  the  stuff  muck  at  the  bot 
tom  ;  then  he  laid  down  flat  and  rested,  out  of  sight,  except  the 
half  of  his  neck  and  head.  "Bones"  did  this  respectfully, 
quietly,  without  disturbing  anybody.  But  he  was  not  ailing, 
and  there  was  a  chance  for  an  argument.  Mack  gave  an 
audible  gasp  and  succumbed.  By  and  by  a  little  resolution, 
the  size  of  a  pea.  began  to  flutter  under  his  waistcoat,  and 
he  crawled  out  onto  the  rail-fence  and  cooned  along  to  land 
not  so  moist  and  went  up  to  the  farmer  teaming  near  by,  and 
I  could  see  the  pantomime  between  the  two.  Mack  first  stood 
on  his  toes,  bowed  his  back,  pushed  his  telescopic  neck  out 
three  meters  and  lifted  his  hat.  The  tiller  of  the  soil  stood 


Recollections  of  Pioneer  and  Army  Life.  117 

as  rigid  and  unbending  as  a  statue  of  Patrick  Henry.  Mack, 
seeing  he  had  failed  to  make  an  impression,  turned,  and  with 
desperate  eagerness  hurled  his  long  arm,  barbed  with  a  keen 
index  finger,  toward  "Bones"  and  his  driver.  The  agricultur 
ist  continued  sphinx-like,  as  though  he  had  stood  there  for 
four  thousand  years  and  meant  to  stay  there  for  a  season 
longer ;  whereupon  Mack,  who  was  full  of  resources,  thrust 
his  windward  arm  deep  down  into  his  spring  pajamas.  I  took 
that  for  a  feint,  but  before  he  could  turn  and  give  me  a  grave 
wink  that  farmer  had  unhitched  from  his  wagon,  backed 
his  team  up  to  the  disabled  vehicle  far  out  from  shore  and 
"yanked"  it  from  the  jaws  of  Erebus,  while  the  driver  sat  on 
the  box  triumphant  as  it  emerged.  The  travelers  contemplated 
"Bones"  in  silence  for  some  minutes.  Then  one  said  to  the 
other,  "He  is  richly  embossed  and  I  think  we  had  better  have 
him  baked  and  hand-painted,  and  return  him  to  the  livery 
man  as  a  'shef-duver.' " 

We  took  dinner  with  Mr.  Eldridge,  of  Roseville,  not  with 
out  some  apprehension  as  to  the  appearance  of  our  entourage 
as  we  drove  within  the  porte-cochere.  We  greeted  our  host 
meekly  as  he  glanced  at  "Bones"  and  observed  the  evidences 
of  the  desperate  efforts  we  had  made  to  clean  him  off  with 
cobs  and  sundry  other  aids  we  found  along  the  road,  and 
after  the  noon  hour,  as  we  drove  away,  our  courteous  host 
seemed  to  smile  in  an  unwonted  manner  as  we  trotted  off 
down  the  lane.  Our  stepper  had  been  refreshed  with  a  good 
dinner  and  was  winsomely  blithe  and  graceful,  barring  the 
mud  on  his  sides,  on  the  harness  and  on  the  vehicle,  which 
did  not  seem  to  impede  his  movements  as  we  drove  south 
ward  toward  the  next  frog-pond,  which  we  reached  in  due 
time,  and  on  the  verge  of  which  Mack  deserted  his  compan 
ion,  and  took  to  the  fence  again  to  observe  the  behavior  of 
"Bones"  and  his  driver  across  the  worst  place  we  had  yet 
struck.  A  farmer  plowing  in  the  field  adjacent  was  also  in 
terested  in  the  passage,  and  craned  his  neck  over  the  plow, 
bent  on  not  missing  any  part  of  the  show  as  he  saw  "Bones" 


Recollections  of  Pioneer  and  Army  Life. 


cautiously  descend  into  the  abyss  and  the  driver  lay  on  the 
whip  at  the  supreme  moment.  At  the  bottom  of  the  bog 
"I Jones"  declared  himself,  and  walked  out  of  the  harness  and 
away  from  the  jaunting-car  onto  dry  land,  leaving  the  driver 
with  a  piece  of  the  lines  in  his  hands.  Alack  from  his  perch 
on  the  fence  and  the  plowman  in  his  furrow  exchanged  wire 
less  messages,  while  "Moses"  sat  speechless  down  where  the 
bulrushes  grow.  Mack  dubbed  me  "Moses"  on  the  journey, 

on  account  of  my  superior 
wisdom  and  meekness,  char- 
act  e  ristics  which.  I  am 
pleased  to  acknowledge, 
adhere  to  me  to  this  day. 
Henceforth  the  skies  re 
lented,  the  roads  improved, 
and  we  passed  through  a 
series  of  landscapes  not 
surpassed  in  the  Garden 
State,  nor  matched  outside 
of  it.  On  our  return  trip 
we  bore  away  northwest 
and  reached  the  Mississippi 
River  at  the  Yellow  Banks. 
MOSES  IN  THE  BULLRUSHES.  Here  we  should  have  turned 

due  east  on  the  old  stage  road  to  Monmouth,  but  the  bridges 
were  gone,  and  we  drove  north  to  Rollings  worth's;  but  the 
storm  god  shook  his  head,  and  we  continued  north  to  Coghill's, 
where  the  bridge  was  also  gone,  and  under  grim  necessity  poor 
"Bones"  dragged  his  weary  way  far  north  into  Mercer  Coun 
ty,  where  we  found  lodging  at  the  hospitable  farm-house  of 
Mr.  Duncan.  From  this  point  we  drove  nearly  due  south, 
finding  a  crossing  near  Little  York.  On  our  last  day  out  we 
came  upon  Monmouth  in  the  happy  possession  of  her  over 
grown  cottonwood  tree  and  fathomless  mud-hole  in  the  north 
west  corner  of  the  public  square,  which  were  Jier  chief  orna 
ments  in  ante-bellum  days. 


CHAPTER  XXIII. 


A  GLIMPSE  OF  HORACE  GREELEY. 

The  Civil  War  of  1861-65  was  one  of  the  stepping-stones 
of  the  ages ;  like  the  expulsion  from  the  Garden ;  the  Exodus ; 
the  fall  of  Babylon ;  the  civilization  of  Greece ;  the  ^all  of 
Rome;  the  crucifixion  of  Christ;  the  Crusades;  the  discovery 
of  America;  the  overthrow  of  British  tyranny  by  tre  thirteen 
Colonies.  It  was  a  fight  to  hold  what  the  race  had  already 
won  of  civil  liberty — a  free  conscience  and  a  free  right  arm. 
With  the  crisis  came  the  man — our  great  political  prophet ; 
born  in  due  time,  among  the  lowly,  in  deepest  poverty.  There 
was  no  beauty  that  we  should  desire  him.  We  were  faithless 
and  unbelieving.  "Can  any  good  come  out  of  Nazareth  ?"  "Is 
not  this  the  carpenter's  son?"  "Whence  getteth  he  this 
wisdom?"  Derided,  scorned,  hated,  threatened,  murdered! 
Anointed  of  God,  bearing  His  unmistakable  image  in  his  soul, 
and  confessed  of  just  men,  willing  to  stand  for  the  truth  at 
the  cost  of  blood  and  treasure.  And  so  it  came  to  pass  that 
he  was  made  President  of  the  United  States,  and  wrought  a 
work  which  has  transfigured  the  man  for  all  time. 

A  root  out  of  dry  ground,  he  is  still  an  enigma  and  an 
astonishment  to  many;  incomprehensible  now  in  this  age  of 
graft  and  colossal  selfishness  as  he  was  to  the  great  men  of 
his  own  generation,  who  assumed  superiority  over  him.  A 
matchless  pilot  he,  to  the  consternation  of  the  shallow  pre 
tenders  in  high  places.  He  had  none  of  the  pride  of  life.  The 
obscurity  of  his  birth  weighed  upon  him  down  to  his  entering 
the  White  House.  It  was  only  then  that  he  was  emancipated. 
"I  am  not  fit  for  the  Presidency,"  he  wrote  to  his  friends. 


120  Recollections  of  Pioneer  and  Army  Life. 

At  the  opening  of  the  senatorial  joint  discussion,  he  said: 
Twenty-two  years  ago  Judge  Douglas  and  I  became  ac 
quainted.  We  were  both  young  then — he  a  trifle  younger  than 
I.  Even  then  we  were  both  ambitious — I  perhaps  quite  as 
much  so  as  he.  With  me  the  race  of  ambition  has  been  a  fail 
ure — a  flat  failure ;  with  him  it  has  been  one  of  splendid  suc 
cess.  His  name  fills  the  nation,  and  it  is  not  unknown  even  in 
foreign  lands.  I  affect  no  contempt  for  the  high  eminence  he 
has  reached.  I  would  rather  stand  upon  that  eminence  than 
wear  the  richest  crown  that  ever  pressed  a  monarch's  brow." 

The  one  glorious  and  glorifying  fact  concerning  Mary 
Todd,  a  fact  that  should  hallow  her  memory  to  all  future  gen 
erations  despite  her  weaknesses  and  follies,  is  that  she  be 
lieved  from  the  first,  implicitly,  with  a  faith  rock-ribbed  and 
unshakable,  in  the  inherent  greatness  of  her  husband.  "Doug 
las  is  nothing  but  a  scrubby  little  Vermont  Yankee,  not  to  be 
compared  with  Lincoln,"  said  Mary.  The  woman's  intuition 
surpassed  the  wisdom  of  the  great. 

During  my  school-days  at  Monmouth  there  were  no  hard- 
and-fast  contracts  with  literary  bureaus  to  secure  popular  lect 
ures  on  diverse  current  themes.  Some  of  the  distinguished 
men  of  the  period  were  at  our  service,  among  them  Horace 
Mann,  George  D.  Prentice,  Dr.  Haven,  and  Horace  Greeley. 
The  literary  societies  of  the  college  were  the  intermediary  for 
providing  this  mental  pabulum,  and  we  negotiated  with  the 
principals  direct  at  an  average  cost  of  $50.00  each.  It  fell  to 
my  lot  to  secure  the  services  of  some  of  these  men — to  see 
that  they  were  properly  domiciled  during  their  brief  stay 
among  us — and  that  the  leading  professional  men  of  the  town 
had  an  opportunity  to  meet  them.  Horace  Greeley  was  the 
most  interesting  figure  that  appeared  on  our  platform.  He 
was  the  man  behind  the  anti-slavery  guns  during  the  years 
leading  up  to  the  Civil  War.  He  had  the  conscience  and  the 
ear  of  the  nation  as  no  other  had.  The  people  were  eager  to 
see  and  hear  him.  His  eccentricities  no  less  than  his  great 
ability  contributed  to  this  curiosity.  Since  the  foundation  of 


Recollections  of  Pioneer  and  Army  Life.  121 

our  Government  we  have  had  only  two  (not  more)  great 
journalists  in  this  country — Benjamin  Franklin  and  Horace 
Greeley.  This  was  my  thought  when  a  young  man  and  at  the 
close  of  half  a  century  I  am  still  of  that  opinion.  These  two 
men  in  intellectual  force  surpassed  a  thousand,  and  they  will 
be  remembered  when  ten  thousand  bright  editorial  pens  are 
forgotten.  It  is  true  that  the  founder  of  the  Tribune  was 
brought  low  during  the  Civil  War  and  had  to  dip  his  colors 
to  the  Great  Commoner  in  the  White  House,  but  he  might 
have  done  that  and  still  easily  be  the  one  great  editorial  light 
to  lead  a  nation  to  rid  itself  of  a  damning  stain. 

Benjamin  Franklin  was  not  a  pattern  in  morals  for  his 
generation  and  Horace  Greeley  had  his  limitations ;  but  when 
that  honored  memory  is  menaced,  a  mighty  throng  of  the 
chivalrous  and  impartial  stands  ever  ready  for  its  defense.  Mr. 
Greeley  arrived  in  Monmouth,  according  to  agreement,  on  the 
early  morning  train.  I  was  late  in  getting  down  to  meet  him. 
The  depot  was  a  dirty  little  dry-goods  box,  the  reserved  space 
fully  occupied  by  a  "cannon"  soft-coal  stove,  by  the  side  of 
which  stood  the  solitary  figure  of  the  great  editor,  wrapped  in 
an  enormous  buffalo  great-coat,  his  well-remembered  face  and 
full  dome  of  thought  o'ertopped  by  a  broad-brimmed  Quaker 
hat  of  the  precise  pattern  of  William  Penn's  own.  I  con 
cealed  my  amazement  as  well  as  I  was  able,  and  found  him 
most  cordial  and  companionable.  I  saw  him  comfortably 
quartered  at  the  old  Baldwin  House.  On  assisting  him  to 
divest  himself  of  his  wooly  buffalo  investment,  we  uncovered 
the  famous  old  "drab  overcoat"  which  had  become,  on  account 
of  its  age  and  constant  daily  service,  a  piece  of  garmenture 
subject  to  national  comment.  At  the  last,  or  first,  however, 
I  found  the  old  gentleman  in  conventional  evening  attire  as 
good  as  the  best,  barring  his  neck-tie — a  wandering  accessory 
to  his  toilet,  which  Elizabeth  Cady  Stanton,  on  one  occasion, 
had  to  bring  into  control  on  short  notice  as  a  distinguished 
company  was  on  the  point  of  passing  in  to  dine.  At  the  solic- 


122  Recollections  of  Pioneer  and  Army  Life. 

itation  of  the  local  photographer,  I  had  agreed  to  entice  Mr. 
Greeley  over  to  the  sky-light  for  his  picture.  This  he  good- 
naturedly  assented  to,  and  after  breakfast  and  other  prelimi 
naries  were  out  of  the  way,  I  sallied  forth  with  my  peculiar 
charge  in  the  ancient  drab  envelop  and  Quaker  hat.  Mr. 
Greeley  had  a  certain  inequality  of  carriage  as  a  birthright, 
a  lameness,  or  shuffling  gait,  which  made  him  appear  to  dis 
advantage  as  he  made  his  way  through  the  town,  and  it  fol 
lowed  that  we  had  all  the  idlers  and  street  Arabs  at  our  heels. 
They  lay  in  ambush  while  we  were  occupied  in  the  photo 
graph  gallery,  but  at  our  reappearance  upon  the  street  they 
fell  in  again  like  Falstaff's  army,  receiving  recruits  moment 
arily,  so  that  by  the  time  we  had  got  around  to  the  Atlas 
office  we  had  a  large  convoy.  The  local  newspaper  office  oc 
cupied  another  dry-goods  box  under  the  old  cottonwood  tree 
at  the  northwest  corner  of  the  public  square.  At  this  point 
the  motley  crowd,  narrowly  watching  our  distinguished  vis 
itor's  every  change  of  direction,  and  probably  anticipating  our 
objective,  overflowed  the  local  editor's  sanctum  in  advance,  so 
that  I  had  difficulty  in  getting  the  two  men  together. 

It  was  Horace  Greeley's  influence  and  active  personal 
labors,  as  is  well  known,  that  led  the  convention  of  1860  to 
nominate  Abraham  Lincoln  for  the  Presidency.  Little  thought 
we,  as  this  singular  figure  slouched  around  the  public  square 
in  Monmouth  in  1859,  of  the  strange  determining  influence 
which  was  so  mightily  to  effect  the  history  of  our  Govern 
ment,  and  how  this  personal  triumph  over  William  H.  Seward 
in  the  old  Wigwam  was  to  be  requited  by  his  own  complete 
discomfiture  at  the  hands  of  the  man  whose  elevation  to  the 
Presidency  he  had  so  signally  aided.  Greeley's  helplessness 
in  his  encounter  with  Abraham  Lincoln  may  be  accounted  for 
in  precisely  the  same  way  that  other  distinguished  men  whose 
ability  equalled  that  of  Greeley  discovered  their  master  in  the 
man  in  the  White  House — the  failure  to  comprehend  and  rely 
upon  the  consummate  pilot  in  charge  of  the  helm  of  State 
during  the  Civil  War. 


Recollections  of  Pioneer  and  Army  Life.  123 

We  are  not  to  kick,  therefore,  if  in  being  helped  in  the 
advancement  of  a  great  cause,  we  ourselves  should  suffer 
humiliation  and  contumely.  Alas,  that  it  should  be  so!  His 
great  and  sensitive  heart  was  broken  at  the  last,  and  it  was  a 
hard  and  stony  heart  that  felt  no  qualms  when  that  great 
editorial  light  went  out  in  eclipse. 

George  D.  Prentice,  the  biographer  and  friend  of  Henry 
Clay,  the  poet,  editorial  wit,  and  paragrapher  of  considerable 
fame  was  greeted  by  a  full  house.  His  best  verse,  written  in 
his  earlier  and  better  days,  will  survive  the  flood  of  similar 
literature,  but  the  Lyceum  platform  suffered  no  loss  when  he 
retired  from  it.  He  was  billed  for  two  lectures  at  Monmouth, 
but  he  was  let  off  with  one  appearance  at  his  own  request. 
We  transferred  him  to  Oquawka  for  the  unemployed  even 
ing,  where  the  receipts,  owing  to  the  short  notice,  barely  cov 
ered  the  expenses.  Prentice,  at  this  time  was  supplying  Rob 
ert  Bonner's  New  York  Weekly  Ledger  with  a  quarter  col 
umn,  more  or  less,  of  paragraphs,  wise  saws,  and  otherwise. 
On  our  way  over  to  Oquawka  by  rail  and  hack  'I  had  the  op 
portunity  of  observing  how  this  Ledger  work  was  done.  He 
carried  a  volume  of  "Quotations"  in  his  hand,  from  which  he 
would  make  a  selection,  transfer  it  to  his  mental  hopper,  turn 
the  crank,  and  lo  here  and  lo  there — something  bright  and 
new;  nothing  more  or  less  than  old  straw  threshed  over! 
Who  was  it  said.  "There  is  nothing  new  under  the  sun"? 


CHAPTER  XXIV. 


LINCOLN  AND  DOUGLAS. 

Stephen  A.  Douglas  was  well  known  at  the  Yellow  Banks 
when  Henderson  was  a  part  of  Warren  County.  My  father 
sat  on  the  jury  when  Douglas  was  the  circuit  judge,  and  his 
charges  to  the  jury,  as  my  father  was  wont  to  say,  were 
models  of  force  and  clearness.  At  the  age  of  thirteen  or 
thereabouts  1  first  heard  Douglas  in  a  public  address.  It  was 
during  the  ''Know-nothing"  eruption  and  the  gathering  took 
place  at  the  north  door  of  the  court-house.  General  Dodge, 
of  Burlington,  Iowa,  introduced  the  speaker,  who  presented 
a  striking  figure  as  he  came  forward  on  the  platform.  On 
a  compact  little  body,  clothed  in  a  black  broadcloth,  claw 
hammer  suit,  sat  a  remarkable  head,  surmounted  by  a  shock 
of  dark  brown  hair.  It  was  an  Irish  mug  and  he  looked  like 
an  unabridged  edition  of  Admiral  Dot.  But  he  was  mighty 
in  the  pulling  down  of  his  enemies'  strongholds.  For  con 
centrated  vituperation  his  denunciation  of  the  political  fore 
runner  of  A.  P.  A. -ism  has  had  few  equals.  His  invective  did 
not  appear  in  its  most  significant  aspect  in  the  printed  page. 
I  recall  it  now  as  though  one  of  our  battle-ships  had  placed 
one  of  her  twelve-inch  shells  ten  times  in  succession  in  the 
same  spot  on  the  enemies'  water-line.  In  the  course  of  his 
address  he  undertook  a  defense  of  the  repeal  of  the  "Kansas- 
Nebraska  Act."  It  was  then  that  the  crowd  became  restless 
under  the  interpellations  of  Gideon  Russell,  a  thoroughly  sin 
cere,  courteous,  fearless  and  well-informed  citizen  on  the  cur 
rent  political  questions  of  the  day.  The  local  anti-slavery  cham 
pion  was  persistent  and  sent  a  shot  in  at  every  favorable  oppor 
tunity.  The  Democrats  in  the  crowd  finally  got  nervous  over 

124 


Recollections  of  Pioneer  and  Army  Life.  125 

it,  and  boldly  accused  Frank  Dallam  and  Colonel  Henderson 
of  molding  the  bullets  for  Mr.  Russell  to  fire  at  the  speaker. 
At  this  moment  there  was  a  chance  for  a  row.  As  a  boy, 
earnestly  partisan,  and  watching  the  corners,  I  could  see  that 
there  was  an  undercurrent  of  deep  feeling  in  the  crowd.  This 
was  made  plain  in  various  ways ;  as  for  Colonel  Henderson, 
he  was  shaking  like  an  aspen  with  anger  and  excitement. 
Douglas  could  on  occasion  make  the  amende  honorable  in  a 
very  neat  way,  and  so,  here  and  now,  oil  was  poured  on  the 
troubled  waters ;  the  crowd  quieted  down,  and  the  meeting 
dispersed  in  an  amiable  mood.  Afterward,  I  heard  Douglas 
on  the  public  square  in  Monmouth.  He  had  grown  stouter; 
his  voice,  always  strong,  now  seemed  at  times  Stentorian  as 
he  rolled  off  his  periods.  His  deliberation  was  such  that  his 
words  seemed  hyphenated,  and  too  the  syllables,  and  he  be 
came  so  absorbed  in  his  theme  that  he  was  oblivious  of  his 
handkerchief  and  other  trifles  till  the  foam  gathered  in  the 
corners  of  his  mouth,  not  an  object  specially  attractive.  I  was 
at  school  at  the  time,  and  having  a  good  voice  myself,  I  used 
often  to  amuse  my  confreres  by  imitating  Douglas'  peculiar 
bull-dog  notes  and  manner.  I  usually  began  with  the  Senator's 
opening  sentence  in  his  Monmouth  speech  :  "Fellow-citizens- 
of  -  old  -  Warren  !  We  -  have  -  come-together  -  to-dis-cuss-the- 
'great-questions-which-are-now-ag-i-ta-ting  -  the-country-f rom  - 
cen-ter-to-cir-cum-fer-ence !" 

His  stump  speeches  were  composed  largely  of  pure  soph 
istry  and  bluff,  but  he  will  be  remembered  for  his  sturdy, 
all-around,  large  patriotism.  If  Great  Britain  put  up  a  bluff 
against  us,  Douglas  was  sure  to  call  it  on  the  floor  of  the 
Senate.  He  was  a  thoroughbred  American,  and  that  meant  his 
country — an  indissoluble  Union — first,  last  and  forever.  I 
salute  his  memory. 

The  answering  notes  of  preparation  for  the  Lincoln- 
Douglas  senatorial  campaign  were  beginning  to  be  heard 
throughout  the  State;  discussion  was  rife,  and  voters  were 
stirred  as  never  before.  As  the  summer  of  1858  wore  along 


126  Recollections  of  Pioneer  and  Army  Life. 

these  giants  in  the  political  arena  came  together  on  the  same 
platform  at  carefully  selected  points  in  congressional  districts 
supposed  to  be  coigns  of  vantage,  but  the  whole  country  stood 
in  the  attitude  of  attention  and  made  careful  notes  on  the 
progress  of  the  debate.  The  passing  years  have  rendered 
judgment  from  which  there  is  no  appeal  on  these  two  historic 
characters  and  the  results  of  this  campaign,  and  when  the  un 
believer  questions  the  veteran  who  "lags  superfluous  on  the 
stage,"  the  book  is  pointed  out,  with  the  injunction :  "There 
is  the  history  of  your  country;  read  it." 

On  the  date  fixed  for  the  joint  discussion  I  made  one  of 
an  immense  delegation  from  Henderson  and  Warren  counties 
and  boarded  a  train  for  Galesburg  to  witness  the  meeting  of 
the  gladiators  at  that  place.  The  day  was  fair  and  hot  and 
the  multiplied  thousands  who  came  by  train  and  private  con 
veyance  stirred  the  dust  in  the  streets  until  it  was  suffocating. 
Douglas  was  detained  at  a  hotel  near  the  depot  during  the 
forenoon  by  a  political  side-show.  An  ambitious  student  from 
Lombard  University,  encouraged  by  his  party  allies,  addressed 
the  Senator  in  a  speech  of  absurd  buncombe  and  presented 
him  with  a  small  flag.  After  the  noon  hour,  the  immense  crowd 
assembled  on  the  Knox  College  campus,  the  platform  for  the 
speakers,  the  reporters  and  others  having  been  erected  against 
the  wall  of  the  old  auditorium  on  the  south  side.  Here  with 
their  backs  against  the  wall  of  the  old  college — as  near  as 
either  of  them  ever  got  to  a  college — the  tribunes  of  the  peo 
ple  were  at  bay,  and  had,  as  it  were,  to  fight  for  their  lives. 

As  a  young  auditor  and  a  strong  partisan,  it  is  easy  for 
me  to  exaggerate  the  scene  presented  to  my  highly  wrought 
nerves  on  that  day ;  and  still,  now,  looking  back  upon  it  after 
the  lapse  of  three  and  fifty  years,  through  the  color  reflected 
by  the  blood-red  shield  of  Mars,  am  I  not  justified  in  record 
ing  that  the  occasion  was  a  iremorable  one,  so  full  of  sup 
pressed  feeling,  as  the  tall  figure  of  our  great  political  prophet 
advanced  to  protest  against  the  brazen  impertinences  of  the 


Recollections  of  Pioneer  and  Army  Life.  127 

chief  Northern  apologist  for  the  extension  of  slavery?  Aleck 
Findley,  an  intelligent  farmer  of  our  county,  stood  in  the 
dense  crowd  in  front  of  me,  and  when  Lincoln  in  a  few  clear- 
cut  sentences  laid  bare  the  moral  stain  of  slavery  upon  the 
race  and  its  depressing  effect  upon  the  heritage  won  by  our 
fathers,  which  we  wished  to  preserve  in  its  entirety,  he  could 
not  restrain  his  emotion — "Isn't  that  grand !''  Douglas  opened 
the  discussion  in  a  speech  of  one  hour;  Lincoln  replied,  oc 
cupying  an  hour  and  a  half ;  and  Douglas  closed  with  a  resume 
of  thirty  minutes,  during  which  he  presented  a  figure  which 
could  not  be  forgotten.  Taking  exception  to  Lincoln's  pointed 
arraignment,  Douglas  presented  a  spectacle  for  men  and  an 
gels  as  his  shock  of  hair  flared  like  that  of  an  enraged  lion, 
and,  as  usual,  his  explosions  of  wrath  and  power  of  denuncia 
tion  were  the  sensations  of  the  day.  During  this  forensic  dis 
play  Lincoln  sat  with  his  back  half  turned  to  the  audience, 
leaning  on  his  hand,  braced  by  his  arm  akimbo ;  at  times  run 
ning  his  fingers  through  his  hair  until  it  stood  straight  up,  the 
gnarled  face  upturned,  the  kindly,  beaming,  penetrating  eyes 
looking  straight  into  the  face  of  his  roaring  antagonist ! 

Apart  from  the  joint  discussions,  both  speakers  continued 
the  canvass  of  the  State,  and  including  all  other  points,  Lin 
coln  spoke  in  the  old  Military  Tract  at  Dallas,  Oqnawka  and 
Monmouth.  His  speech  at  the  latter  place,  where  T  was  at 
school,  was  delivered  under  conditions  in  striking  contrast  to 
the  bright,  sunny  day  on  which  Douglas  appeared  there.  From 
first  to  last  the  two  men  appear  in  striking  contrast:  The 
one  was  tall ;  the  other  short.  The  one  deferential ;  the  other 
sufficient  unto  himself,  and  deferred  to  none.  The  one  studied 
carefully  his  ground,  then  moved  with  the  force  of  an  aval 
anche  ;  the  other  with  supreme  audacity  forced  the  fight  from 
start  to  finish.  The  one  seemingly  never  quite  ready ;  the 
other  alert  and  never  surprised.  The  one  inscrutable  in  his 
patience  and  wariness,  waiting  his  opportunity;  the  other,  with 
savage  directness,  did  not  scruple  to  tear  down  the  most  sacred 


128  Recollections  of  Pioneer  and  Ann\  Life. 

barriers.  The  one  composite,  revelling  in  the  warmth  of  his 
companionships,  passing  easily  to  the  consideration  of  the 
gravest  questions  that  concern  our  race ;  the  other  destitute 
of  humor,  selfish  in  his  aims,  hasking  in  the  plaudits  of  the 
groundlings.  The  one  loved  his  home  and  the  child  at  his 
knee;  the  other  almost  unconscious  of  the  domestic  hearth. 
The  one  lived,  as  it  were,  under  the  constant  surveillance  of 
the  Eye  that  slumbers  not  nor  sleeps;  the  other  oblivious  to 
the  unseen  world  so  close  at  hand.  The  one  took  counsel  of 
the  prophets  of  old ;  the  other  was  never  known  to  open  the 
Book,  nor  to  care  concerning  its  contents.  The  one  abstemi 
ous,  clean,  not  an  habitue'  of  the  bar-room,  and  shrank  instinct 
ively  from  its  odorous  powers  as  a  soul-  and  body-wrecker. 
The  other  drank  whiskey,  and  leaned  heavily  on  men  given 
to  their  potations.  Both  have  disappeared  from  the  horizon 
of  mortal  ken — the  souls  hungering  for  liberty  in  every  clime, 
of  whom  the  world  is  not  worthy,  with  upturned,  wistful 
faces,  looking  yearningly  after  the  great  Emancipator  depart 
ed  ;  the  other  forgotten,  except  as  his  memory  is  preserved 
by  association  with  his  great  rival!  Yes;  even  the  weather 
divided  upon  these  two  men.  The  skies  were  dissolving  when 
Lincoln  arrived  in  Monmouth ;  the  crepe  was  on  Nature's 
door,  and  the  mourners  were  going  about  the  streets  under 
umbrellas.  But  this  was  a  slight  affliction  compared  to  the 
prolonged  address  of  welcome  inflicted  upon  the  patient  crowd 
standing  in  the  rain  through  it  all!  The  local  orator  was  a 
distinguished  gentleman  from  somewhere  in  the  south  end 
of  the  county.  This  was  the  opportunity  of  a  lifetime,  and  he 
enjoyed  it  to  the  full.  The  meeting  was  held  in  the  vicinity 
of  a  lumber-yard,  where  a  water-proof  shed  had  been  erected 
for  the  great  Commoner's  accommodation.  It  took  our  neigh 
bor  half  an  hour  to  introduce  Mr.  Lincoln.  The  work  was 
done  after  the  manner  of  some  of  the  old-time  preachers  of 
the  period,  who  took  the  Lord  to  one  side,  as  was  their  wont, 
and  told  Him  all  about  Himself ;  where  He  was  born,  and 


Recollections  of  Pioneer  and  Army  Life.  129 

when,  and  the  circumstances  incident  thereto,  and  what  He  had 
been  doing  these  six  thousand  years :  where  he  had  failed  in 
his  calling,  the  remedy  he  had  applied  for  his  mistakes,  how 
things  were  going  now  since  he  had  introduced  his  reforms, 
what  rebates  he  had  abolished,  the  amount  in  dollars  and  cents 
of  the  graft  he  had  exposed,  the  number  of  the  big  thieves 
he  had  locked  up,  and  on  and  on,  extending  particulars,  until 
he  had  thoroughly  coached  him  in  the  whole  of  his  biography. 
And  now  to  turn  the  switch — after  the  gentleman  had  equip 
ped  the  speaker  with  a  good  running  knowledge  of  himself 
and  fully  posted  the  crowd  as  to  the  importance  and  extent 
of  his  own  superior  knowledge  and  information,  he  told  Mr. 
Lincoln  that  it  was  his  turn. 

In  the  meantime  how  poor  old  Mother  Nature  did  flood 
the  earth  with  her  tears !  And  by  the  time  the  entire  crowd 
had  found  a  seat  on  the  lumber-pile,  and  under  the  protection 
of  their  umbrellas  had  pulled  off  their  boots  and  emptied  a 
quart  of  water  out  of  each  one,  the  speaker  had  finished,  and 
we  all  went  home. 


CHAPTER  XXV. 


MY  SCHOOL-DAYS  AT  MONMOUTH  AND  THE  CROZIUR- 
TRAGEDY. 


Monmouth  College  was  opened  for  the  reception  of  stu 
dents  in  September,  1856,  in  an  old  frame  school-house  of 
one  room,  which  stood  on  ground  near  the  Y.  M.  C.  A.  build 
ing.  Provision  had  been  made  for  a  college  building,  of  which 
the  school  took  possession  the  next  year.  The  president-elect, 
David  A.  Wallace,  did  not  take  charge  of  the  school  at  once. 
He  was  an  attractive,  interesting  man  at  the  time  of  his  ad 
vent  on  the  streets  of  Monmouth,  within  a  twelvemonth  of  the 
opening,  at  the  age  of  thirty-five  or  thereabouts.  His  intellect 
ual  qualifications  were  considerable.  He  possessed  good  exec 
utive  talents  and  marked  energy.  I  have  heard  him  deliver 
some  very  able  discourses,  but  as  a  rule  his  sermons,  while  ac 
companied  by  more  or  less  forensic  display,  were  not  above  the 
average.  He  had  his  limitations,  but  he  must  be  credited  with 
a  laborious  life-work,  self-denying,  great  and  enduring.  He 
had  affable,  pleasing  manners,  and  I  am  sure  he  will  be  held  in 
grateful  remembrance  by  the  early  friends  (alumni  and  their 
descendants)  of  what  has  come  to  be  a  highly  creditable  and 
flourishing  school.  It  is  to  be  hoped  that  some  glad  day  the 
college  will  come  into  the  possession  of  an  endowment  that 
will  place  it  beyond  apprehension  as  to  its  financial  support  ; 
then  it  will  follow  as  a  matter  of  course  that  a  fund  will  be 
raised  and  expended  in  the  erection  on  the  campus  of  a  bronze 
statue  of  its  first  president.  My  elder  brother,  Porter,  and  I 
were  among  the  first  students  in  attendance  at  the  opening 
of  the  school.  My  father  was  a  staunch  friend  of  the  under- 


Recollections  of  Pioneer  and  Army  Life.  131 

taking,  a  member  of  the  first  board  of  trustees,  and  a  liberal 
supporter. 

In  the  year  1857  we  occupied  a  room  at  the  hospitable 
home  of  James  G.  Madden,  Esq.,  on  East  Broadway,  and  on 
a  sunny  day  in  the  autumn,  between  the  hours  of  one  and 
two  o'clock  P.  MV  as  was  my  custom,  I  was  sauntering  along 
the  street  toward  the  college  with  my  books  under  my  arm 
to  attend  the  afternoon  recitations.  On  approaching  the 
old  Baldwin  House,  Mrs.  William  Grant,  who  lived  across  the 
street,  came  running  in  an  excited  manner  toward  the  hotel. 
As  I  came  up  to  the  first  or  ladies'  entrance  old  Mr.  Fleming 
stood  at  the  foot  of  the  stairway  leading  to  the  second  story, 
shouting  in  a- crazed  way  that  they  (not  saying  who)  had  kill 
ed  his  sons,  and  demanding  help.  His  face  was  bleeding,  and 
the  white  hairs  of  age  aroused  my  sympathy.  The  crow!  had 
not  yet  gathered,  and  there  were  only  a  very  few  people  about, 
and  these  few  were  standing  dazed  at  the  sudden  shedding  of 
blood,  uncertain  what  to  do.  A  step  or  two  and  I  stood  in 
the  front  doorway  of  the  office,  and  in  the  center  of  the  room, 
stretched  at  full  length  on  the  floor,  lay  the  body  of  Henry 
Fleming,  the  glassy  eyes  wide  open,  staring  at  the  ceiling. 
In  a  room  up  stairs  his  brother  lay  dead.  A  stalwart  young 
carpenter,  thirty  years  of  age,  William  Crozier  by  name,  was 
the  author  of  this  double  homicide.  The  Flemings  (father 
and  two  sons)  had  brought  pressure  to  bear  upon  Crozier  and 
compelled  him  to  meet  them  for  a  private  interview  at  the 
hotel.  The  Flemings  were  armed  and  brought  with  them  a 
written  statement  compromising  Crozier  and  Miss  Alice  Flem 
ing,  an  attractive  young  lady  of  hitherto  unblemished  reputa 
tion,  the  eldest  of  three  daughters  of  the  Fleming  family. 
The  Flemings  demanded  Crozier's  signature  to  the  paper, 
which  they  had  placed  before  him.  On  his  refusal  the  two 
young  Flemings  (both  married  men)  sprang  upon  Crozier  as 
he  sat  in  his  chair,  and  in  the  struggle  which  ensued  he  man 
aged  to  get  a  large  dirk  knife  from  his  pocket,  with  which  he 


132  Recollections  of  Pioneer  and  Army  Life. 

cut  both  men  to  the  heart.  They  died  almost  instantly.  Henry 
Fleming,  after  being  cut,  ran  clown  the  stairway  into  the  hotel 
office  and  fell  a  corpse  in  the  center  of  the  room  as  aforesaid. 
His  brother  sank  down  a  corpse  in  the  room  where  he  was 
struck.  A  young  brother  of  Crozier's  met  the  elder  Fleming 
in  the  hallway  upstairs  and  struck  him  in  the  face,  and  thus 
ended  this  bloody  tragedy,  the  whole  of  which  was  consum 
mated  in  less  time  than  it  has  taken  to  write  these  words.  The 
few  people  at  hand  at  the  moment  were  stunned.  The  Flem 
ing  family  suffered  great  loss,  and  Warren  County  stands 
conspicuous  with  the  name  of  Crozier  written  in  blood  upon 
her  annals ;  a  name  not  to  be  pronounced  in  the  home  which 
shelters  the  sacred  honor  of  a  Christian  household.  He  be 
trayed  the  innocent  one,  and  in  defense  of  that  crime  commit 
ted  a  double  murder  for  which  there  was  no  extenuation,  and 
he  should  have  forfeited  his  life  on  a  limb  of  the  first  tree  at 
hand!  I  do  not  believe  there  is  another  instance  in  the  his 
tory  of  our  country  where  a  family  and  the  majesty  of  the 
law  suffered  such  an  enormity  at  the  hands  of  one  man,  and 
the  crime-laden  scoundrel  anointed  with  an  acquittal  and  given 
his  liberty !  The  old  church  of  which  he  was  a  member  began 
forthwith  to  manufacture  public  sentiment  in  his  favor,  and 
some  young  men  of  the  town  secured  a  cheap  notoriety  by 
supplying  the  prisoner  with  something  better  than  a  convict's 
ration  and  sharing  his  bed  in  the  old  county  jail.  It  is  a  fair 
question  whether,  in  the  event  of  their  own  household  having 
suffered  a  like  invasion,  these  young  men  would  have  hesitated 
to  advertise  their  shame  by  lying-in  with  the  ravisher.  One 
of  these  addle-pated  gentry  I  believe  served  a  term  subsequent 
ly  as  a  member  of  the  State  Leg'slatur2  and  romdcd  out  his 
career  as  a  statesman  by  selling  second-hand  sewing  machines. 
The  truth  in  this  instance  may  be  discerned  at  the  bottom  of 
the  well.  The  community  where  this  crime  was  accomplished 
had  not  been  so  fortunate  up  to  that  time  as  to  come  into 
possession  of  a  hero.  In  Crozier  they  discovered  this  ''great 


Recollections  of  Pioneer  and  Army  Life.  133 

awakening  Lght,"  and  they  made  the  most  of  it.  I  do  not 
know  at  whose  instigation  or  permission,  but  the  finishing 
touches  were  placed  on  this  uncanny  business  by  the  photog 
rapher  who  secured  a  negative  of  the  remains  of  the  brothers 
resting  together  on  the  bier  ready  for  burial,  and  the  picture 
gallery  became  the  subject  of  curious  inquiry  on  the  part  of 
the  groundlings  who  repaired  thither  in  numbers  to  gratify  a 
morbid  curiosity.  It  is  a  pity  that  Crozier  could  not  have  sup 
plied  the  "high  light"  to  this  post-mortem  finale  by  standing 
on  the  public  square  and  selling  his  own  negatives,  rather 
than  undertake  a  retreat  to  Texas. 

It  was  on  a  dark,  misty  day  that  the  long  funeral  train 
passed  like  a  phantom  across  the  high  tableland  to  the  cem 
etery,  as  the  road  ran  in  those  days.  As  I  stood  at  my  window 
and  caught  a  glimpse  of  the  procession  the  words  of  Ossian 
seemed  to  fit  in  well :  "The  mist  is  on  the  hills ;  the  blast  of 
the  north  is  on  the  plains ;  and  the  traveler  shrinks  in  the  midst 
of  his  journey !" 

During  my  attendance  at  the  school  "bleeding  Kansas" 
was  the  principal  theme  of  public  controversy.  Politicians 
wrangled  over  it ;  street  toughs  fought  over  it ;  "advanced" 
preachers  bloviated  about  it ;  and  the  Eccrittean  Society,  of 
which  I  was  president  during  a  port  of  this  period,  went  into 
convulsions  trying  to  reconcile  the  antagonisms  growing  out 
of  it.  If,  in  the  regular  weekly  debates,  we  sounded  the  depths 
of  theology,  astrology,  psychology  or  any  other  subject  which 
we  knew  nothing  about,  the  astute  disputants  uniformly  wound 
up  with  a  peroration  on  "bleeding  Kansas,"  in  which  she  was 
made  to  bleed  afresh,  at  every  pore,  copiously.  Out  in  Kansas, 
John  Brown,  of  Osawatomie,  was  the  heavy  villian.  The 
Eccrittean  Society,  not  be  outdone  in  mixed  vaudeville,  ex 
ploited  a  John  Brown  also.  At  a  memorable  meeting  of  the 
society  during  the  winter  of  1858-59  we  suddenly  found  our 
selves  in  the  throes  of  revolution,  with  John  Brown  in  the 
leading  role  as  a  Jacobin.  The  "house"  came  to  a  division,  in 


134  Recollections  of  Pioneer  and  Army  Life. 

which  Brown  "got  it  in  the  neck."  In  a  paroxysm  of  wrath 
he  seceded — went  across  the  hall  to  the  Philos — and  they  shut 
him  out  with  a  blackball.  Thereupon  "bleeding  Kansas,"  out 
of  sympathy,  discharged  gore  more  profusely  than  before.  Bob 
Diehl  led  the  Brown  forces.  Bob  appeared  on  the  floor  at  the 
next  regular  meeting  with  a  manuscript  speech  seven  yards 
long.  His  roach,  nicely  slicked,  stood  vertically  in  the  most 
menacing  way.  The  benches  weic  full.  Bob  was  a  veteran 
orator  (the  equal  of  Dad  Harris),  and  the  boldest  held  his 
breath  to  catch  the  opening  sentences.  Bob  was  grave  even  to 
sadness.  He  took  a  hitch  in  his  suspender  and  addressed  the 
chair  in  his  best  lord  marquis  manner.  The  chair  responded 
with  a  distant  random  rap  of  the  gavel  that  made  the  eyeballs 
of  the  members  "about  face."  The  house  came  to  order  and 
Bob  opened  artfully.  He  said — or  read — that  he  purposed 
to  "touch  lightly  upon  the  great  questions  which  now  made 
the  earth  tremble  exultingly."  At  this  point  the  members  look 
ed  suspiciously  at  Bob's  manuscript,  which  hung  down  and 
extended  in  manifold  waves  along  the  floor  like  a  queen's 
train.  I  would  be  pleased  to  give  a  stenographic  report  of 
Bob's  speech  right  here,  but  the  necessary  space  would  exceed 
that  required  for  "Atmosphere  Bill's"  speech  on  Free  Silver, 
and  prudence  admonishes  a  recoil.  To  explain,  however, 
Bob's  speech  was  in  defense  of  the  Brown  family  generally, 
and  among  other  things  he  declared  with  extreme  emphasis 
that  nothing  had  occurred  in  "bleeding  Kansas"  to  compare 
with  the  revolting  abasement  which  our  own  illustrious  scion  of 
the  tribe  of  red-heads  had  suffered  at  the  hands  of  his  enemies. 
The  upshot  of  it  all  was  that,  in  the  absence  of  the  lord  chan 
cellor  and  his  lieutenants,  on  a  subsequent  night,  "our  Brown" 
sneaked  back  into  the  fold,  and  when  we  heard  of  it  we  ex 
changed  a  casual  glance,  pulled  a  Virginia  stoga  and  took  a 
smoke. 


CHAPTER  XXVI. 


"To  PIKE'S  PEAK  OR  BUST." 

During  the  year  1859  the  political  parties  throughout  the 
country  were  organizing  the  contest  for  the  nominations  for 
the  Presidency  to  be  made  in  the  national  conventions  the  fol 
lowing  year,  the  dramatic  features  whereof  stirred  the  dark 
est  passions  of  partisans  for  years,  and  were  destined  to  affect 
the  organic  structure  of  the  Government  itself  for  all  time. 
The  hopes  of  the  conservative  anti-slavery  party  were  cen 
tered  in  William  H.  Seward,  although  strong  side-lights  re 
vealed  figures  of  other  notable  men.  In  due  time  Seward 
made  a  direct  bid  for  the  vote  of  the  Western  States  and  I 
joined  the  multitude  which  packed  the  trains  going  to  Chi 
cago  to  hear  him.  The  city  had  less  than  200,000  population ; 
it  laid  low  on  the  flat  prairie,  the  wooden  sidewalks  conspicu 
ous  for  their  inequalities.  It  was  essentially  a  wooden  town, 
the  same  that  went  up  in  flames  twelve  years  later.  The  term 
inals  of  the  "Q"  railroad  were  of  the  crudest  description,  and 
our  train  stood  on  the  open  prairie  with  a  dozen  other  long 
passenger  trains  of  that  and  converging  roads  for  two  hours, 
waiting  turns  to  get  into  the  city  and  unload.  Seward's 
Northwestern  welcome  was  an  open-air  meeting,  for  the 
crowd  was  beyond  the  capacity  of  any  dozen  auditoriums  of 
that  day.  "Long  John"  Wentworth  was  the  mayor  of  the  city, 
and  introduced  the  senator,  who  was  welcomed  by  the  pro 
longed  cheers  of  the  people,  who  were  massed  in  the  streets 
for  blocks  in  the  vicinity  of  the  speaker's  platform.  The  lit 
tle  "great  man"  was  visible  only  to  the  few,  and  could  be  heard 
only  by  the  select  few  in  his  immediate  vicinity.  He  made 
one  of  the  great  orations  of  his  life,  as  the  people  discov- 

135 


136  Recollections  of  Pioneer  and  Army  Life. 

ered  after  they  had  returned  home  and  read  it;  but  Seward, 
to  be  appreciated  as  an  orator,  required  certain  conditions ;  an 
enclosure  of  limited  area ;  a  place  to  lie  down,  broadly  speak 
ing;  to  be  exact,  something  to  sit  on,  or,  in  default  of  that, 
something  he  could  cling  to  with  both  arms,  for  he  was  born 
tired.  The  Civil  War,  you  remember,  would  not  last  longer 
than  ninety  days,  according  to  the  New  York  senator's  reckon 
ing,  because,  in  the  physical  sense,  that  was  the  limit  of  his 
comprehension. 

In  May  of  the  year  the  nominating  conventions  were  held, 
1860,  I  was  on  my  way  to  the  Western  mountains.  As  we 
wound  along  westward,  across  the  broad,  lonely  tablelands  of 
western  Iowa,  where  the  bleaching  bones  of  the  recently  ex 
terminated  buffalo  were  still  lying  plentifully  broadcast,  the 
approaching  Republican  Convention  at  the  "Wigwam"  in  Chi 
cago  became  the  subject  of  conversation  between  myself  and 
my  companion,  James  Shoemaker,  who  declared  stoutly  and 
conclusively  (in  his  own  estimation)  that  Abraham  Lincoln 
would  be  the  nominee.  I  shared  in  the  general  belief  that 
William  H.  Seward  was  the  coming  man,  and  I  also  shared  in 
the  general  surprise,  although  not  in  the  disappointment,  at  his 
defeat.  The  western  half  of  Iowa  was  very  thinly  settled; 
the  only  object  of  interest  which  we  visited  before  reaching 
the  Missouri  River  being  a  Mennonite  settlement,  where  mar 
riage  was  barred  and  property  held  in  common.  I  recall  the 
log  dining-room  and  kitchen  with  its  immense  cauldrons  where 
the  food  was  cooked.  WTe  crossed  the  "Big  Muddy"  at  Platts- 
mouth,  Nebraska,  where  we  met  E.  H.  N.  Patterson  and  D.  C. 
Hanna  with  quartz  mills,  on  their  way  to  Pike's  Peak.  We 
joined  their  train,  which  materially  increased  the  pleasure  of 
the  journey,  for  Mr.  Patterson  had  made  the  trip  the  year 
previous,  and,  too,  was  an  Argonaut  of  '49,  and  had  printed 
notes  of  these  trips  at  hand,  which  gave  our  bearings  from 
day  to  day. 

At  this  point  I  respectfully  submit  that  a  memoir  of  Mr. 


Recollections  of  Pioneer  and  Army  Life.  137 

Patterson  is  due  the  people  of  Henderson  County  from  the 
pen  of  his  talented  son,  now  the  publisher,  in  the  third  gen 
eration,  of  the  Spectator,  one  of  the  oldest  county  papers  in 
the  State.  Such  a  memorial  volume,  with  portrait  and  the 
notes  of  the  California  and  Pike's  Peak  journies  and  the  his 
torical  matter  available  from  data  left  by  the  grandfather, 
Mr.  J.  B.  Patterson,  would  meet  with  a  cordial  reception  at 
the  hands  of  the  people  of  the  county  and  without  doubt  would 
be  financially  profitable.  The  Historical  Association  of  the 
county  would  find  such  a  volume  an  invaluable  accession  to 
its  archives.  Neglected  local  history  soon  fades  into  tradition, 
then  to  doubt,  which  is  another  word  for  denial.  Catch  the 
record  while  you  can. 

Bayard  Taylor  at  this  time  was  in  the  flush  of  his  fame 
as  a  litterateur  and  traveler,  and  his  published  works  were 
familiar  to  me.  Before  leaving  for  the  West  I  had  the  pleas 
ure  of  hearing  him  at  Galesburg  deliver  a  descriptive  lecture 
on  a  journey  along  the  Nile  valley,  which  so  affected  my  imagi 
nation  that  when  we  first  came  in  view  of  the  Platte  River  I 
looked  with  delight  on  the  distant  virgin  landscape,  the  wind 
ing  river,  the  isolated  trees,  not  unlike  the  tufted  palms  of  the 
Nile  valley,  and  almost  in  spite  of  myself,  I  found  I  was  look 
ing  through  Taylor's  glasses  upon  old  Rameses'  sand-dunes  and 
fertile  fields.  \Yith  a  pyramid  or  two  the  picture  would  have 
been  complete.  I  was  mounted,  riding  alone  far  in  advance 
of  the  train,  and,  at  a  moment,  Mr.  Patterson  overtook  me 
afoot.  I  was  riding  leisurely,  and,  as  he  was  a  genial  com 
panion,  we  were  en  rapport  at  once.  He  was  a  cultured  gentle 
man,  and  I  cannot  recall  a  happier  hour  on  this  journey  than 
this  present  one;  the  soft,  rose-colored  atmosphere  was  en 
chanting,  and  our  hearts  burned  within  us  as  we  drank  to  our 
fill  the  elixir  of  a  perfect  spring  morning  in  the  last  of  May. 
There  are  lost  years  in  our  lives ;  so  long  gone  and  so  com 
pletely  forgotten  that  we  cannot  identify  them;  then  there  are 
other  days — hours — one  hour  in  which  we  feel  that  we  have 
been  supremely  blest,  and  yet  nothing  has  been  added  to  out 


138  Recollections  of  Pioneer  and  Army  Life. 

stature  nor  to  our  bank  account !  This  was  one  of  my  happy 
mornings !  That  was  largely  an  equestrian  journey  so  far  as 
I  was  personally  concerned,  and  I  had  a  picturesque  steed  of 
an  ashen  hue,  and  its  sense  of  hearing  was  fully  proportioned 
to  the  equipment  which  Nature  had  provided  for  that  neces 
sary  office.  Had  General  Washington,  in  Crawford's  bronze 
group  in  Capitol  Square,  Richmond,  Virginia,  been  mounted 
on  a  thoroughbred  such  as  mine,  his  dignity  would  be  im 
paired  ;  but  I  believe  Julius  Caesar  had  nothing  better  to  ride  at 
the  head  of  his  victorious  legions.  My  steed  had  a  voice  with  its 
other  accomplishments.  One  June  morning  our  train  took  the 
upland  trail  while  I  rode  out  of  sight  of  it  on  a  parallel  route, 
at  the  foot  of  the  marl  bluffs,  along  the  river,  and  had  ad 
vanced  some  miles  when  I  suddenly  found  that  the  ears  of 
my  steed  had  assumed  a  particularly  rigid  and  questioning  at 
titude.  I  gazed  off  toward  the  Pacific  Coast  and  saw  in  the 
distance  two  highly  illuminated  mounted  figures  advancing 
in  my  direction — gentlemen  without  hats,  with  quills  in  the 
seams  of  their  pantaloons,  fringe  on  their  coat-tails,  and  a 
turkey  cockade  in  their  hair,  and  when  the  sense  of  being  un 
armed  fully  dawned  upon  me,  they  seemed  about  nine  feet 
tall,  and  at  the  end  of  each  rod  in  our  mutual  approach  they 
took  on  at  least  a  foot  more  in  height,  until  by  comparison  I 
felt  of  no  consequence  whatever.  But  I  made  bold  with  the 
thought  that  maybe  I  was  increasing  in  size  in  their  imagina 
tions  also,  and  I  rode  on  to  my  doom !  As  we  met  in  Nature's 
audience-chamber  the  old  chiefs  said  "How !  How !"  and  the 
one  nearest  to  me  reached  out  his  brawny  hand  in  welcome. 
My  Rosamond  circled  gracefully  out  of  his  reach.  Then  it 
was  my  turn  to  do  the  grand  handsome,  and  I  plunged  the 
spurs  to  the  hilt  and  bore  down  upon  I'empereurs  Americaine 
with  the  glad  hand :  but  Rosamond  was  coy ;  a  princess  of  the 
blood  could  not  courtesy  and  retreat  more  faultlessly.  Noth 
ing  daunted,  I  summoned  the  shades  of  all  my  patriotic  an 
cestors,  and  plunged  down  into  the  dust  of  the  arena  once 
more  with  my  hospitable  right  hand  extended  far  out.  The 


Recollections  of  Pioneer  and  Army  Life.  139 

old  chiefs  embraced  the  opportunity  in  succession,  and  with 
a  hearty  "How !  How !"  from  both  sides  the  brilliant  court 
dissolved,  assented  to  with  great  readiness  by  Rosamond,  who 
lifted  tip  her  noble  voice,  with  the  echoes  of  which  the  vasty 
solitudes  rang  in  a  way  they  never  rang  before  and  will  never 
ring  again. 

Fremont's  orchard,  and  Fort  Kearney,  O'Fallon's  Bluffs, 
and  old  Fort  St.  Vrains,  of  the  Hudson's  Bay  Company,  were 
some  of  the  interesting  points  on  this  journey,  but  the  trail 
of  the  Argonauts  of  '49,  still  plainly  visible  in  many  places, 
affected  me  in  a  peculiar  manner.  I  noted  with  interest  where 
they  crossed  the  Platte — at  the  confluence  of  the  North  and 
South  Forks — where  some  of  them  lost  their  lives  by  drown 
ing.  1  should  wish  to  approach  the  palaces  of  the  Eternal 
City  by  the  Via  Appia,  along  the  ruts  worn  by  the  chariots  in 
the  solid  rock-paved  road  where  Paul  went  with  "this  chain" 
to  appeal  to  Caesar.  Here,  rather  than  in  the  shadows  of  the 
mouldering  plinths  and  blackened  shafts,  I  should  feel  like 
taking  the  shoes  from  off  my  feet.  The  footsteps  of  those 
who  have  gone  before  hallow  the  ground  for  me ! 

We  made  our  noon  halt  one  blistering  hot  day  in  a  desert 
region  where  the  prickly  pear  and  other  forms  of  cacti  were 
the  only  visible  vegetation.  For  an  hour  or  more,  off  in  the 
distance  south  of  us,  an  Indian  was  in  full  view  stalking  an 
antelope.  He  finally  killed  it,  as  I  remember,  with  the  bow  and 
arrow,  dressed  it,  and  came  in  haste,  spitting  cotton,  and  of 
fered  to  trade  half  of  the  carcass.  We  gave  him  a  pint  of 
sugar  in  exchange,  with  which  he  was  delighted. 

In  the  vicinity  of  a  suspicious  cabin,  where  the  pasture 
was  rich  and  plentiful,  we  made  our  camp.  The  small  log- 
cabin  of  one  room  was  occupied  by  two  slouching  rascals,  who 
had  no  visible  means  of  support,  and  Jim,  who  had  an  uneasy 
feeling  concerning  them,  had  them  under  surveillance.  He 
paid  them  a  visit  and  came  back  to  camp  confirmed  as  to  the 
character  of  the  squatters;  but,  notwithstanding,  none  of  us 
were  considerate  enough  to  stand  watch  during  the  night.  We 


140  Recollections  of  Pioneer  and  Army  Life. 

paid  the  usual  penalty.  The  next  morning  our  best  horse 
(picketed  out)  was  missing.  Jim  had  plenty  of  nerve,  and 
during  breakfast  fixed  upon  a  plan  for  the  recovery  of  the 
stolen  horse.  He  took  a  lunch  and  disappeared  over  the  hills 
with  the  doubtful  prospect  of  ever  returning,  for  he  was  un 
armed  and  horse-thieves  in  that  region  held  human  life  in 
slight  estimation.  The  good  fortune  which  attended  my  com 
panion  on  many  of  the  battle-fields  of  the  Civil  War  in  later 
years  crowned  his  search  in  this  instance.  We  had  almost 
reached  the  end  of  our  journey  when  lo!  Jim  rode  into  view 
on  his  blue  roan.  He  found  his  horse  picketed  far  out  from 
the  trail,  screened  by  the  intervening  hills.  Returning  to  the 
Cache  le  Poudre  trail,  he  cast  his  lot  with  friendly  trains  along 
the  way  and  returned  in  safety. 

~M\  riding-nag,  with  all  her  vocal  accomplishments  strong 
within  her,  was  at  our  service;  but  when  I  put  "Nailer's"  har 
ness  upon  her  and  condemned  her  to  service  at  the  wagon- 
tongue,  she  seemed  more  under-sized  than  ever  alongside  of 
the  bay  mare;  but  "Nailer's"  mate  pulled  the  wagon,  while 
Rosamond  was  thrown  in  for  good  measure.  In  the  absence 
of  the  veteran  driver,  I  was  promoted  to  the  box,  and  having 
seated  myself  and  got  hold  of  the  reins.  I  had  ample  time  to 
scrutinize  my  team,  which  looked  like  an  old  mare  and  her 
colt,  the  latter  walking  at  her  side  with  its  father's  harness  on. 
I  (ivas  not  unreasonably  elated  at  the  presentment.  I  medi 
tated  on  Thad  Warner  and  the  stage-drivers  of  the  elder  time, 
and  felt  humbled  by  comparison,  not  only  at  my  accomplish 
ments  as  a  Jehu,  but  at  the  aspect  of  my  roadsters.  I  had  some 
misgivings  as  to  how  Rosamond  would  discharge  her  obliga 
tions,  and  I  treated  her  with  great  deference.  As  an  encour 
agement,  Captain  Hanna  took  the  advance,  and  the  ox  team 
with  the  machinery  was  our  rear  guard.  I  had  the  center. 
The  advance  moved  off.  Rosamond  was  silent  and  in  a  dis 
consolate  state  of  mind,  and  I  was  uncertain  as  to  the  out 
come.  The  Scripture  came  to  my  rescue.  Do  you  know,  you 
miserable  sinner,  that  the  Lord  is  always  at  hand  to  give  youi 


Recollections  of  Pioneer  and  Army  Life.  141 

a  lift  if  you  will  only  ask  Him?  Faith  gave  me  a  jog  in  the  ribs 
and  said,  "If  thou  sayest  to  this  mountain,  'Be  thou  removed 
and  cast  into  the  sea/  it  shall  be  removed."  So  I  raised  my 
whip  and  in  a  burst  of  confidence  said,  ''Get  up,"  and  Rosa 
mond,  to  my  infinite  relief,  took  up  the  line  of  march. 

At  the  distance  of  thirty  miles  we  had  our  first  view  of 
the  mountains,  lying  like  a  bank  of  blue  clouds  on  the  west 
ern  horizon.  After  a  few  hours'  travel,  we  could  distin 
guish  the  pine  forests  thereon,  looking  like  weeds  or  small 
shrubs,  and  in  due  time  we  rested  in  camp  at  the  foot  of  the 
rocky  escarpments  which  formed  the  background  of  the  site 
of  the  hamlet  of  Boulder,  on  the  banks  of  the  stream  of  that 
name  where  it  debouches  upon  the  plain.  Boulder  is  now  a 
beautiful  city ;  then  it  consisted  of  two  or  three  cabins,  and  the 
immense  spiral  horns  of  mountain  rams,  weighing  fifty  pounds 
with  the  skull,  lying  around  where  the  carcasses  had  been 
dressed.  In  the  vicinity  panther,  wild  cats,  and  mountain  sheep 
were  plentiful.  We  celebrated  Independence  Day  in  Gold  Hill 
mining  camp  in  a  light  fall  of  snow,  and  made  the  return  trip 
to  Boulder  (nine  miles)  almost  on  the  double  quick,  as  it  is 
an  easy  descent  all  the  way.  This  was  the  camp  where  Hanna 
and  Patterson  proposed  to  install  their  mining  machinery. 
Here,  on  the  summit  of  the  valley  range,  their  associates  had 
excavated  a  hole  about  fifteen  feet  deep;  on  this  and  nothing 
more  their  hopes  were  founded.  If  there  was  any  color  in 
the  camp,  the  possessor  did  not  boast  of  it  nor  offer  to  show 
it.  There  was  still  some  grub  in  the  camp  and  an  unusual 
number  of  men  for  the  size  of  the  hole  in  the  ground,  with 
which  all  of  them  claimed  to  be  identified,  and  on  this  rested 
their  justification  for  assembling  with  great  promptitude  for 
pork  and  beans  at  the  hour  of  twelve. 

Experienced  men  had  explored  Colorado  thoroughly  and 
determined  that  the  gulches  of  the  territory  held  no  reward  for 
the  placer  miner.  The  reduction  of  the  quartz  was  the  only 
alternative,  and  this  did  not  seem  to  be  gold-bearing.  I  recall 
seeing  but  one  "stamp-mill"  there  in  1860,  and  that  had  proven 


142  Recollections  of  Pioneer  and  Army  Life. 

a  ^barren  investment.  In  the  face  of  these  discouragements 
Hanna  and  Patterson,  neither  of  whom  had  any  practical 
knowledge  of  the  reduction  of  quartz,  invested  in  two  quartz- 
mills  of  the  Swartz  pattern.  They  were  nothing  more  than 
large  coffee-mills  of  the  type  in  use  by  our  grandmothers.  They 
were  lame  and  ineffective,  and  came  to  naught.  They  were 
built  for  horse-power,  but  the  motor  was  ridiculously  inad 
equate,  as  well  as  the  grinding  power.  The  mills  went  to  the 
junk-pile  in  short  order — Patterson  to  his  printer's  case  and 
Hanna  to  his  plow. 

Along  the  summit  of  the  valley  range  some  happy  mid 
summer  hours  were  rounded  out  breathing  in  the  delicious 
odors  of  the  spruce  groves  and  gathering  the  necked  gum  so 
much  prized  by  the  children  of  the  home  prairies,  who  had  lit 
tle  knowledge  of  the  glorious  regions  where  it  is  gathered.  On 
some  far  granite  boulder  I  used  to  loiter  and  look  back  over 
,the  plains  whence  we  had  come,  and  trace  like  threads  the 
course  of  the  streams.  At  intervals  we  came  upon  scenes  of 
devastation  too  black  for  words,  caused  by  forest  fires — the 
beautiful  coniferous  groves  burned  to  a  crisp,  the  mountains 
to  their  very  summits  studded  with  the  skeleton  stems  of  the 
masses  of  young  trees.  Having  secured  our  animals  and  other 
property  for  an  absence  of  some  days,  we  strapped  Rosamond 
with  a  grub-stake  and  made  a  trip  over  the  range  to  the  Greg 
ory  diggings  in  search  of  the  camp  of  Billy  Martin  and  Will 
Porter.  The  trail  crossed  the  first  range  north  of  the  Bow- 
der;  it  was  very  narrow,  and  in  places  the  narrow  path  stop 
ped  at  the  base  of  a  vertical  ledge  of  rock ;  then  Jim  would  get 
under  Rosamond  with  one  of  her  forelegs  over  each  shoulder, 
whilst  your  humble  servant  would  secure  a  good  stout  tail 
holt,  and  in  this  elaborate  and  skillful  fashion  lift  her  majesty 
onto  the  shelf  above  and  so  continue  the  ascent.  From  the 
spot  where  the  trail  crossed  the  Boulder,  that  mountain  tor 
rent,  clear  as  crystal,  can  be  seen  for  miles  in  its  sharp  descent 
from  its  covert  of  eternal  snows,  escaping  confinement  in  the 
narrow  passages  in  the  rocks  at  one  point,  breaking  in  spray 


Recollections  of  Pioneer  and  Army  Life.  143 

over  resisting  boulders  at  another,  coming  down  upon  one 
like  a  long  line  of  glittering,  sabre-wielding  cuirassiers!  In' 
our  passage  over  we  slept  one  night  on  the  dome  of  the 
mountains  with  the  cougars.  At  dawn  Nature  was  in  deep 
mourning.  We  no  longer  looked  up  at  the  clouds.  We  groped 
our  way  cautiously  in  the  midst  of  them.  They  enveloped 
us  like  cotton-wool.  As  we  made  our  way  in  the  moist  mass 
it  would  open  and  close  upon  us,  then  move  in  prodigious  vol 
ume  round  about  us,  to  open  for  a  moment,  then  close  again. 
The  mountain  world  was  reeking  wet,  but  there  were  no  rain 
drops.  Along  those  high  altitudes,  through  these  impenetrable 
fogs,  we  came  now  and  then  upon  miniature  glens  carpeted 
with  the  most  luxuriant  emerald  pasturage.  We  were  now  in 
the  ancient  haven  of  the  wild  flocks  and  herds.  Even  Rosa 
mond  the  imperturbable  took  heart  at  this  scene.  After  some 
hours'  travel,  we  descended  into  the  lateral  gulches  leading  into 
Gregory  Canyon,  which  we  found  strewn  in  places  with  the 
abandoned  appliances  for  placer  mining.  Pay  dirt  had  not 
been  found,  or  not  in  quantity  to  warrant  further  effort.  Be 
fore  nightfall  we  had  reached  Martin  and  Porter's  cabin,  where 
the  two  Henderson  County  boys  labored  assiduously  in  the 
role  of  masters  of  ceremony,  and  welcomed  the  travelers 
from  "the  States"  with  the  pomp  and  circumstance  worthy  of 
old  Gregory  in  her  best  days.  Jim  responded  promptly  to  their 
friendly  advances ;  placed  another  quid  where  it  would  do  the 
most  good,  and  broke  out  in  one  of  those  full-moon  smiles 
which  have  been  the  envy  of  his  friends  these  three-score  years 
and  ten.  Porter  acquiesced  with  a  broad  grin,  his  eyes  rest 
ing  heavily  on  our  grub-stake ;  then  he  lifted  up  his  voice  with 
his  favorite  song: 

"The  ash  and  the  oak  and  the  bonny  willow  tree 
Are  all  growing  green  in  the  old  country." 

We  were  as  hungry  as  coyotes.  Billy  Martin  was  the  chef. 
Seigneur  Porter  turned  to  him  and  said :  "Let  the  grand  'salon 
be  made  ready,  and  covers  laid  for  four  "  "The  salon  is  al- 


144  Recollections  of  Pioneer  and  Army  Life. 

ways  ready/'  replied  the  chef.  I  was  curious  to  see  a  Gregory 
•dining-hall  that  was  "always  ready,"  so  I  looked  in.  It  had 
no  windows.  It  had  a  piece  of  the  mountain  for  a  floor,  and 
there  was  a  pig-sty  in  one  corner  which  I  was  about  to  take 
hold  of  when  Seigneur  Porter  staid  the  hand  of  the  intruder 
with  the  expostulation,  "Don't  disturb  the  bed !"  As  he  said 
this  he  gazed  in  a  vague  way  at  the  stringy  clouds  as  they 
•coiled  like  vaporous  snakes  around  the  summit  of  Pike's  Peak. 
Then  Bozzaris  (I  mean  the  Grand  Seigneur)  cheered  the  band 
by  saying  to  the  chef :  "Is  the  piece  de  resistance  about  ripe?" 
"I  ran  the  knife  through  it  and  she  's  gittin'  there,"  said  Billy. 
"I  say,  chef,"  resumed  Seigneur  Porter,  "ain't  it  about  time 
the  puree  was  purred?"  "Sound  the  gong,"  said  the  chef; 
"call  Jim,  but  softly,  for  he  is  hungry  enough  to  eat  a  raw  boar ; 
and  tell  Mat  to  go  out  and  point  Rosamond  to  the  pine  trees 
and  tell  her  to  help  herself."  Then  the  Grand  Seigneur  sat 
himself  down  in  the  seat  of  MacGregor.  The  guests  were 
placed  according  to  storage  capacity,  which  gave  Jim  first 
place,  and  he  helped  himself  to  the  dried  apples  first  dash.  The 
introductory  over,  the  cloth  was  removed,  and  the  corn-dodger 
came  on  hard  and  cold.  The  heft  of  the  feast  centered  on  this 
course,  and  there  were  some  lightning  strokes,  and  the  act 
throughout  was  abreast  with  the  claims  of  the  press  agent. 
Our  pack-animal,  being  well  supplied  with  granite  gravel  and 
pine  needles,  seemed  to  enjoy  the  function  to  the  limit. 

Our  return  journey  to  the  old  "Sucker"  State  had  irresist 
ible  charms  for  our  two  mining  friends,  and  on  the  payment 
of  a  large  sum  they  secured  the  right  to  walk  alongside  of  our 
wagon  home. 


CHAPTER  XXVII. 


HOMEWARD  BOUND. 

Denver  was  the  place  of  rendezvous  for  our  departure 
homeward.  Here  we  met  Mr.  Fred  Ray,  Sr.,  his  son  Fred, 
and  other  associates,  who  had  just  got  in  from  extensive  ex 
plorations  of  the  mining  region  contiguous  to  South  Park. 
Alaska  is  the  only  territory  now  under  the  Stars  and  Stripes, 
with  the  exception  possibly  of  the  Philippine  Islands,  which 
can  produce  such  a  scene  as  Denver  presented  in  1859-60. 
Dance-halls  and  gambling-dens  had  full  swing,  and  these  re 
sorts  were  crowded  with  blacklegs  of  every  description.  Three- 
card  monte  and  every  other  gambling  device,  the  most  of  them 
beyond  my  knowledge  and  the  whole  of  them  I  was  looking 
at  for  the  first  time,  were  being  patronized  by  the  crowds  com 
posed  of  Mexicans,  half-breeds,  and  strange  characters  from 
distant  corners  of  the  earth.  A  leader,  an  assistant,  and  the 
"cappers"  exploited  each  his  own  peculiar  game  of  chance  in 
his  own  way.  Abandoned  women  stole  into  view  and  disap 
peared  through  doorways  opening  from  the  rear  into  the  main 
hall,  and  the  passage  to  hell  was  softened  and  gilded  to  the  ear 
by  strains  of  music  from  an  orchestra.  I  looked  in  at  the 
morgue,  where  the  dead  were  to  to  be  found  almost  every  morn 
ing.  Few  questions  were  asked  about  the  crimes  committed  the 
night  before ;  whatever  happened  was  accepted  as  a  matter  of 
course.  The  town  pointed  with  pride  to  its  graveyard  contain 
ing  a  select  assortment  of  gentry  who  had  died  with  their  boots 
on.  In  one  of  my  rambles  about  the  town  I  came  upon  a  more 
cheerful  aspect  some  distance  back  from  the  turbulent  streets: 
a  well-conducted  school  under  the  supervision  of  a  lady  teach- 


146  Recollections  of  Pioneer  and  Army  Life. 

er,  a  bright,  intelligent  woman  of  middle  age,  in  the  pursuit  of 
her  vocation  with  as  much  pride  and  success  as  we  are  accus 
tomed  to  see  in  well-ordered  communities.  Under  the  circum 
stances  the  discovery  was  a  surprise  to  me.  She  was  the  only 
woman  of  good  repute  that  I  can  recall  seeing  in  Denver  at 
that  time,  although  the  good  mothers  of  the  children  in  that 
school  were  in  the  town  somewhere ;  certainly  they  were  chary 
of  going  on  the  streets.  To  get  a  letter  from  home  I  stood  in 
line  while  two  hundred  men  preceded  me  to  the  delivery.  On 
opening  my  letter,  I  found  that  Robert  Moir  (on  whom  1  had 
an  order  for  money)  and  Mr.  Blake,  of  Burlington,  had  passed 
through  Denver  ahead  of  us  on  their  way  home.  The  men 
quarreled  on  the  return  journey,  and  after  my  own  return 
home  I  was  the  only  witness  to  a  terrific  pugilistic  encounter 
between  them.  In  the  late  summer  we  bade  adieu  to  Denver, 
which  I  have  not  seen  since,  and  on  our  way  home  we  came 
upon  the  whole  of  the  Sioux  tribe  of  Indians  returning  from 
their  annual  hunting-trip  with  the  "jerked  buffalo"  heat  hang 
ing  in  strips  across  their  ponies.  They  went  swarming  over 
the  plains  northward,  the  squaws  having  the  care  of  things 
generally,  the  young  copper-colored  lads,  cunning  as  mice, 
shooting  birds  in  the  grass  with  the  bow  and  arrow  as  they 
continued  on  their  way.  The  young  braves,  tall,  athletic 
scamps  six  feet  in  height,  some  of  them,  annoyed  us  a  good 
deal,  sneaking  around  our  wagon  for  an  opening  for  theft. 

When  well  settled  in  camp  one  evening  we  found  that  we 
were  close  neighbors  to  a  small  village  of  the  Ogallalah  Sioux. 
The  bucks  were  away  on  some  thieving  foray,  a  favorite 
amusement,  the  main  purpose  of  which  was  to  make  a  sneak 
at  night  on  the  ponies  of  a  neighboring  tribe  and  get  off  with 
some  of  the  best  of  them.  Nothing  shows  some  of  the  char 
acteristic  traits  of  the  Indian  so  thoroughly  as  this  bent  to 
theft.  His  skill  at  secreting  himself  at  the  moment,  permitting 
you  to  pass  within  a  few  feet  of  him  unobserved,  is  provoking. 
On  this  journey  and  in  subsequent  years  he  caught  me  un- 


Recollections  of  Pioneer  and  Army  Life.  147 

awares  many  times.  I  have  been  the  victim  of  an  old  lump  of 
a  squaw  with  a  papoose  on  her  back,  standing  in  the  woods 
like  a  statue — I  rode  past  within  a  few  feet  of  her,  unconscious 
of  her  presence.  They  seem  to  have  the  art  of  the  wild  animal 
of  taking  on  the  color  and  shape  of  surrounding  objects.  It 
is  true  that  I  was  not  hunting  "Injuns,"  but  I  was  in  their 
country,  and  I  always  felt  a  little  "off"  when  told  by  others 
of  my  company,  who  were  following  the  trail  after  me,  that  we 
had  just  passed  some  red  folks.  On  the  evening  in  question 
we  were  not  aware  that  there  was  a  small  group  of  tepees  in 
our  immediate  vicinity,  in  a  valley  on  the  further  side  of  the 
knoll;  great  was  my  surprise,  therefore,  when  a  group  of 
ladies  of  our  great  interior  quietly  filed  around  me  as  a  cen 
ter-piece  and  seated  themselves  in  a  circle  around  our  camp- 
fire.  I  felt  like  a  tenderfoot,  much  abashed.  Doubtless  I 
smiled  with  a  mixed  motif,  but  I  bowed  correctly.  Inasmuch 
as  the  ladies  had  already  secured  a  solid  foundation  on  the 
ground,  it  was  not  necessary  for  me  to  suggest  that  they  take 
seats.  My  "buffalo  chips"  were  burning  brightly,  and  I  was 
frying  "twisters"  of  the  barbwire  type  in  a  hoary  spider  of 
an  earlier  time.  The  ladies  had  found  me  by  tracing  the  odor 
of  the  evening  meal  up  the  wind.  I  was  glad  they  called,  for 
I  exchanged  without  difficulty  some  of  those  libelous  dough 
nuts  for  chamois  (antelope)  skins,  soft  as  the  cheek  of  in 
fancy.  They  departed  in  triumph,  these  club  women  of  the 
Ogallalah  Sioux — heavy  laden  with  the  trophies  of  an  equit 
able  commerce. 

A  few  days  afterward  we  were  in  camp  at  the  noon  hour. 
I  had  in  the  wagon  a  "target"  rifle  of  the  old  pattern;  a  su 
perior  gun,  highly  ornamented,  but  very  heavy ;  too  much  so 
for  hunting  game.  I  had  brought  it  along  in  the  hope  of  trad 
ing  it  off.  While  we  were  eating  our  lunch  some  Indians  rode 
up  to  the  wagon  where  I  was  seated,  and  I  entered  into  an 
earnest  pantomime  with  one  of  them,  exhibiting  my  rifle,  and 
offering  to  trade  it  for  his  pony.  It  attracted  his  attention  at 


148  Recollections  of  Pioneer  and  Army  Life. 

once,  and  he  reached  out  for  it.  The  weight  of  the  gun  so 
surprised  and  disappointed  him  that  he  showed  his  estimation 
of  it  by  instantly  pulling  a  feather  out  of  his  hair  and  offering 
it  in  exchange  for  the  rifle. 


CHAPTER  XXVIII. 


A  VOLUNTEER  AT  THE  FALL  OF  FORT  SUMTER. 

The  winter  of  1 860-61,  following  the  election  of  Abraham 
Lincoln  to  the  Presidency,  was  marked  by  a  disturbed  condi 
tion  of  the  public  mind.  Conservative  men  began  to  question 
themselves  and  each  other  as  to  the  threats  of  the  Southern 
leaders  who  had  declared  the  right  of  revolution,  as  our  fath 
ers  had  done  against  Great  Britain.  The  people  looked  for 
ward  to  the  message  of  President  Buchanan  to  the  Congress 
in  December  with  deep  interest,  not  to  say  apprehension,  as 
containing  a  statement  of  the  conservative  Democratic  view  of 
the  situation.  I  recall  as  freshly  as  if  it  were  yesterday  how 
eagerly  my  brother  Porter  took  up  the  Chicago  morning  daily 
and  began  reading  the  message  to  my  father  and  others  gath 
ered  at  the  store,  and  their  comments  pro  and  con  as  the  read 
ing  proceeded. 

As  the  winter  months  wore  away  the  slave-holding  States, 
through  their  prolonged  political  rottenness,  sloughed  off  and 
dropped  into  the  abyss  of  rebellion.  In  this  connection  I  re 
call  one  figure  in  South  Carolina — that  of  Judge  Pettigru, 
the  only  public  man  probably  in  all  of  my  mother's  native 
State  who  remained  true  to  the  Union.  A  stranger  met  him 
on  a  street  in  Charleston  one  day  in  1861  and  inquired  the  way 
to  the  insane  asylum.  "Look  anywhere."  the  old  Judge  an 
swered  ;  "you  will  find  it  anywhere  around  here."  While 
Floyd  completed  his  theft  of  the  Government  stores  and  arms, 
and  as  the  oak  buds  began  to  swell,  the  country  was  startled 
by  the  reverberations  of  Beauregard's  guns  firing  on  Fort 
Sumter. 

On  the  23d  day  of  April.  1861.  eleven  days  after  the  fall 


150  Recollections  of  Pioneer  and  Army  Life. 

of  Fort  Sumter,  there  was  a  movement  at  the  Yellow  Banks 
for  volunteers  to  join  the  Union  forces  at  Cairo  under  Colonel 
Ben  M.  Prentiss,  of  Quincy.  Frank  A.  Dallam,  founder  of 
The  Plaindealer,  was  the  leader  of  this  movement.  Along  with 
the  principal  young  men  of  the  village,  I  signed  my  name  on 
this  roll  of  the  first  volunteers  of  the  Civil  War  from  Hen 
derson  County.  My  services  as  such  ceased  on  the  4th  day  of 
July,  1865.  On  the  day  we  left  home  for  the  South  there  was 
a  throng  of  people  on  the  streets  and  around  the  court-house 
to  see  us  off.  There  was  a  current  of  strong  patriotic  feeling 
in  the  hearts  of  those  who  had  assembled  to  bid  us  God-speed, 
and,  as  was  natural  under  the  circumstances,  our  thoughts  took 
a  practical  direction,  and  a  Democrat  distinguished  himself  by 
coming  forward  and  offering  to  drill  us  in  the  facings  and  evo 
lutions  of  the  military  company.  I  was  much  surprised  to  see 
Judge  Richey  engage  in  this  most  useful  and  necessary  work. 
He  was  a  Democratic  official  and  an  honorable  man,  but  some 
how  in  the  mind  of  the  youthful  brave  the  word  "Democrat," 
as  known  in  that  day,  had  a  sinister  association  with  "seces 
sion,"  and  although  I  joined  the  "awkward  squad"  for  awhile, 
the  more  I  thought  of  it  the  more  suspicious  I  became  that 
through  some  military  sleight-of-hand  this  Democratic  son  of 
Mars  might  land  us  in  the  ranks  of  the  Confederacy ;  so  I  fol 
lowed  Jeff  Davis'  example  and  seceded.  It  seemed  absurd  to 
me  that  I  should  take  lessons  in  methods  of  fighting  from  peo 
ple  I  was  going  to  fight. 

We  were  so  ignorant  as  to  what  constitutes  a  good  soldier 
that  we  had  not  the  slightest  suspicion  of  our  ignorance. 
Along  with  all  the  youngsters  of  my  day,  my  imagination  was 
stocked  with  the  feats  of  Napoleon,  with  the  school  reader 
pictures  of  the  surrender  of  Cornwallis,  and,  not  the  least  of 
these,  the  patent  medicine  placard  of  Santa  Anna,  his  wooden 
leg  having  dropped  on  the  road  while  fleeing  for  his  life  with 
his  mounted  escort  before  his  American  pursuers ;  and  all  we 
would  have  to  do  in  going  to  war,  we  surmised,  would  be  to 
draw  the  wooden  scimiters  of  our  boyhood  and  the  enemy 


Recollections  of  Pioneer  and  Army  Life.  151 

would  disappear  with  the  vapors  of  the  morning.  Alas  for 
him  who  boasteth  before  putting  on  the  armor,  rather  than 
after  putting  it  off !  But  however  dense  our  ignorance,  we 
were  not  boasters.  As  for  myself  and  a  moiety  of  our  com 
pany,  we  had  a  decided  advantage.  We  had  belonged  to  a 
company  of  "Wide-Awakes,"  drilled  campaigners  during  the 
political  rivalry  and  stimulus  of  the  Lincoln-Douglas  senatorial 
campaign  of  1858,  an  organization  which  continued  down  to 
and  through  the  Presidential  campaign  of  1860.  Charles  S. 
Cowan,  county  clerk,  was  our  captain  and  drill-master,  and  a 
thoroughly  competent  leader.  There  was  no  company  in  our 
Congressional  District  that  could  compete  with  us  in  company 
evolutions,  and  without  doubt  many  thousands  of  young  men 
throughout  the  North  were  in  this  way  unconsciously  prepar 
ing  themselves  for  efficiency  in  the  Civil  War. 

Massachusetts,  always  the  stout  defender  of  free  institu 
tions,  was  well  represented  in  the  crowd  in  the  person  of 
Joseph  Chickering,  whose  patriotic  fervor  found  expression  in 
song.  He  mounted  a  wagon  in  the  crowded  street  and  led 
some  of  the  young  vocalists  in  singing  "The  Star-Spangled 
Banner."  As  the  hour  of  departure  drew  near  a  great  throng 
from  the  village  and  surrounding  country  gathered  in  vehicles 
to  escort  the  volunteers  to  the  depot  in  Sagetown,  five  miles 
south.  At  the  moment  of  leaving  I  bounded  in  long  strides 
up  the  stairway  to  my  mother's  chamber,  where  she  was  lying 
temporarily  ill,  and  kneeling  at  her  bedside,  received  her  bless 
ing.  On  our  arrival  in  Quincy  we  were  hospitably  entertained 
by  Mrs.  O.  H.  Browning,  wife  of  one  of  the  leading  attorneys 
of  the  old  1 4th  Congressional  District,  later  a  member  of  the 
Senate,  and  later  Secretary  of  the  Interior  under  Andrew 
Johnson.  The  Browning  home  was  of  palatial  proportions, 
distinguished  for  its  architecture,  and,  taken  with  its  parklike 
enclosure,  was  the  pride  of  the  city.  After  an  exchange  of  tel 
egrams  between  Capt.  Dallam  and  Col.  Ben  Prentiss,  we  took 
the  train  for  Cairo,  where  we  were  incorporated  into  the  loth 
Illinois  Infantry  as  Company  D.  Cairo  was  the  rendezvous  for 


152  Recollections  of  Pioneer  and  Ann\  Life. 

troops,  the  base  of  supplies,  and  the  chief  strategical  point  in 
the  Southwest  in  the  days  of  hurried  organization  under  the 
first  call  for  75,000  men.  The  population  of  the  town  com 
prised  many  traitors  in  disguise;  rebel  spies  crowded  elbows 
on  the  streets  with  the  Union  troops  and  a  good  deal  of  con 
fusion  and  uncertainty  marked  the  administration  of  the  post. 
The  regiments  of  the  State  began  with  the  number  7,  where 
our  regiments  in  the  Mexican  War  left  off,  and  they  were 
composed  of  the  best  blood  of  the  commonwealth.  The  Qth 
and  loth  Regiments  occupied  barracks  along  the  levee  on  the 
west  side  of  the  town.  Here  we  had  a  local  drill-  and  parade- 
ground,  and  our  time  was  occupied  by  squad,  company  and 
battalion  drills,  including  the  zouave  skirmish  drill,  and  in 
private  apartments  the  sword  and  Turner  athletic  exercises, 
the  latter  excelled  in  by  the  Germans  from  St.  Louis.  Our 
German-American  -  friends  occupied  a  separate  barrack  and 
were  supplied  writh  free  beer  by  the  car-load  from  their  home 
breweries,  and  as  a  result  these  staunch  friends  of  the  Union 
were  most  of  the  time  in  a  condition  of  incertitude — the  cap 
tain  of  the  company  particularly,  a  big,  fierce-visaged  six- 
footer,  uniformly  appearing  at  the  head  of  his  men  on  dress 
parade  his  face  blazing  like  a  head-light.  They  stood  firm  by 
their  war-cry  throughout  the  service.  "Zwei  Lager  nnd  cine 
Union !" 

Floyd  and  his  conspirators  were  still  busy  shipping  arms 
and  munitions  of  war  South  in  disguised  packages  in  the  holds 
of  the  steamboats  up  to  the  last  moment,  and  it  was  the  busi 
ness  of  these  craft  carrying  the  contraband  goods  to  get  past 
Cairo  without  being  searched,  although  none  of  them  succeed 
ed  in  doing  so  after  our  arrival.  A  shot  across  the  bow  from 
one  of  our  field  guns  compelled  a  landing.  There  was  such  a 
mass  of  humanity — citizens  and  soldiers — on  the  streets  of 
Cairo  during  these  months,  and  indeed  down  to  the  close  of 
the  war.  that  business  of  all  kinds  was  very  profitable ;  so  much 
so  that  it  was  a  common  remark,  that  one  could,  and  many 
did.  make  small  fortunes,  or  lay  the  foundations  of  large  for- 


Recollections  of  Pioneer  and  Army  Life.  153 

tunes,  selling  pea-nuts  and  the  "pegged  and  sewed"  pies  so 
notable  in  that  town  in  those  clays.  Close  to  our  barracks,  on 
the  extreme  point  of  the  peninsula,  Fort  Defiance  (a  formid 
able  earthwork)  was  being  constructed.  In  its  unfinished 
state  General  George  B.  McClellan,  who  was  making  a  study 
of  all  the  advanced  posts  held  by  the  Union  forces,  paid  it  a 
visit,  and  the  field  guns  placed  near  were  fired  to  show  him 
the  range  over  the  water.  In  the  evening  the  troops  were 
reviewed  by  him — a  really  formidable  host  as  they  appeared  to 
us,  unused  as  we  were  then  to  the  large  armies  with  which  we 
were  identified  in  the  years  afterward.  I  recall  his  short,  stout 
person ;  his  large  black  charger,  and  his  new  buckskin  gaunt 
lets.  We  looked  upon  him  as  he  dashed  down  our  line  as  noth 
ing  less  than  a  god :  if  anything  less  than  a  god,  certainly  noth 
ing  less  than  a  god  with  a  small  g,  who,  at  the  very  least, 
possessed  some  of  the  attributes  of  the  supernatural.  Such 
was  the  impression  made  upon  the  youthful  warriors  by  the 
successor  to  General  W  in  field  Scott,  the  aged  and  the  hero  of 
two  wars. 

Innocently  enough,  while  in  the  armed  possession  of  this 
post  we  had  a  peculiar  (if  long-range)  connection  with  the  Brit 
ish  Government.  Palmerston  and  "melud"  John  Russell  were 
no  friends  of  ours.  English  official  opinion  gave  vent  to  its  joy 
at  our  fancied  dissolution  in  the  columns  of  "The  Thunderer." 
The  London  Times  had  already  wiped  the  United  States 
from  the  map  of  the  world,  declaring  that  "the  great  Republic 
is  no  more" !  In  this  vein  of  cherished  belief  the  publishers 
of  that  paper  sent  W.  H.  Russell,  who  had  served  as  their  war 
correspondent  in  the  Crimea,  to  spy  upon  our  movements  and 
troubles.  From  the  first  he  showed  a  marked  fondness  for  the 
South  and  her  leaders.  He  domiciled  and  counseled  with 
them,  made  the  most  of  their  preparations  for  defense,  and 
declared  them  invincible.  Starting  in  at  Richmond,  he  made 
a  tour  of  the  Southern  States,  concluding  with  a  trip  up 
the  Mississippi  River  from  Xew  Orleans  to  Cairo,  where 
he  looked  the  raw  levies  of  the  Government  over.  I  can  see 


154  Recollections  of  Pioneer  and  Army  Life. 

him  now ;  his  insolent  figure  confronting  us  as  we  stood  on 
dress  parade  on  that  summer  evening  in  1861.  But  "where 
be  their  gibes  now"  ?  Across  "the  gray  and  melancholy  waste 
of  years"  I  see  the  pirate  ships,  equipped  with  English  guns 
and  manned  by  English  sailors,  being  built  and  fitted  out  in 
English  ship-yards:  the  destruction  of  our  merchant  marine 
on  the  high  seas ;  the  British  corvette,  the  "Deerhound,"  stand 
ing  in  the  offing  to  rescue  Semmes  and  his  drowning  ship 
mates,  fleeing  like  rats  from  the  sinking  "Alabama." 

Is  there  anything  in  history  more  detestable  than  the  con 
duct  of  the  British  Government  toward  us  during  our  strug 
gle  to  save  our  national  inheritance  ? 

On  the  completion  of  Fort  Defiance,  a  small  group  of 
soldiers,  including  some  ladies  from  the  North,  led  by  Colo 
nel  (later  Major-General)  Dick  Oglesby — wounded  nigh  unto 
death  at  Corinth,  resisting  Van  Dorn  and  "Pap"  Price — gath 
ered  at  the  foot  of  the  flagstaff  to  do  honor  to  the  raising  of 
"Old  Glory"  over  the  fortress.  The  flag  was  run  to  the  top, 
when  the  tackling  parted  and  the  colors  fell  to  the  ground. 
We  had  the  heartache  for  an  instant  when  Oglesby  burst  forth 
in  an  impassioned  speech  of  a  few  sentences,  declaring  that  the 
flag  of  our  country  would  be  trailed  in  the  dust  by  some  of 
the  States  of  the  Union,  but  that  it  would  float  again  over  an 
undivided  country  and  in  greater  splendor  than  before! 

In  July  the  reports  of  the  first  battle  on  Bull  Run  reached 
our  camp.  Our  chagrin  and  humiliation  was  complete.  The 
term  of  our  enlistment  (ninety  days)  would  soon  expire,  and 
our  leaders  gathered  the  soldiers  en  masse  on  the  parade- 
ground,  pleading  and  insisting  that  in  the  shadow  of  defeat  it 
would  be  dishonorable  to  accept  a  discharge.  I  am  sure  that 
if  the  Government  had  insisted  upon  it — officially  suggested 
such  a  sacrifice,  the  large  majority  would  have  promptly  com 
plied  and  remained  in  the  service.  The  South  recoiled  from 
that  shock  more  distinctly  than  the  North — were  amazed,  in 
fact,  that  by  a  lucky  chance  they  held  possession  of  the  battle- 


Recollections  of  Pioneer  and  Army  Life.  155 

field.  If  they  had  felt  convinced  of  a  fairly  earned  success, 
they  would  have  promptly  followed  it  up.  The  excitement 
died  down,  leaving  the  Western  troops  where  they  properly 
belonged. 


CHAPTER  XXIX. 


To  WASHINGTON'  AND  THROUGH  NEW  ENGLAND. 

When  our  term  of  enlistment  had  expired,  under  which  the 
first  call  for  75,000  men  were  sworn  in,  the  regiments  reorgan 
ized,  and  re-enlisted  for  three  years  unless  sooner  discharged. 
We  were  paid  in  gold  and  silver,  and  with  the  thought  in 
my  mind  that  I  would  like  to  serve  throughout  the  war  in  the 
Army  of  the  Potomac.  I  took  the  train  for  Philadelphia,  de 
termined  withal  to  refresh  my  patriotism  at  the  shrines  of  the 
past.  A  young  hlood  is  tempted  to  do  some  foolish  things  in 
going  to  war,  and  without  doubt  I  did  my  share  of  them.  My 
older  brother,  Porter,  although  he  was  not  in  the  military  serv 
ice,  must  have  had  some  war-like  notions  in  his  youth,  for  he 
was  the  possessor  of  an  elegant  pearl-handled  poniard  which 
had  never  been  brought  into  requisition;  but,  as  the  opportu 
nity  to  use  it  seemed  to  have  arrived  when  I  volunteered,  I 
took  the  Castilian  weapon  with  me.  When  I  boarded  the  train 
for  the  East  I  concealed  the  stiletto  in  my  boot-leg  in  regular 
cut-throat  fashion,  and  thought  no  more  about  it  until  I  had 
been  two  nights  out,  when,  feeling  the  loss  of  rest,  I  took  an 
upper  berth  in  the  sleeper.  The  car  was  packed  to  suffocation ; 
the  aisles  overflowing  with  passengers ;  so  that  I  had  difficulty 
in  reaching  my  berth  in  the  old-fashioned  sleeper,  and  in  doing 
so  my  dagger  was  exposed,  and  instantly  I  became  an  object 
of  suspicion.  At  that  time  one  was  liable  to  be  placed  under 
surveillance  on  slight  evidence.  I  became  aware  forthwith 
that  I  was  assuming  unwonted  and  sanguinary  proportions  in 
the  imaginations  of  my  fellow-passengers,  and.  as  the  result 
of  pantomimic  notification,  the  conductor  came  and  peered  with 


Recollections  of  Pioneer  and  Army  Life.  157 

a  searching  eagerness  into  my  boot-leg.  I  affected  indiffer 
ence,  and  turned  over  as  though  I  had  taken  refuge  in  "the  land 
of  Xod.''  On  arriving  in  Philadelphia  the  next  morning  a 
stranger  came  and  indulged  in  a  little  common-place,  but  I 
shook  him  off.  After  I  had  established  myself  in  comfortable 
quarters  at  the  hotel  and  scrutinized  the  old  Liberty  bell,  and 
the  apartments  at  Independence  Hall,  and  the  portraits  of 
the  sages  on  the  walls,  and  plucked  a  blade  of  grass  or  two 
from  the  grave  of  Benjamin  and  Deborah1  Franklin,  I  was  con 
scious,  as  I  made  these  various  and  sundry  turns  throughout 
the  city,  of  the  momentary  presence  of  the  face  I  had  met  on 
getting  off  the  train.  Had  I  taken  a  carriage  to  admire  the 
venerable  edifice  known  as  Girard  College,  the  face  seemed  to 
flit  by ;  at  Betsy  Ross'  house,  where  the  flag  was  made,  I  was 
not  quite  sure,  but  I  had  the  impression  that  the  face  was 
hovering  in  the  vicinity;  but  if  so,  was  that  anything  to  won 
der  at  ?  Were  not  patriots  of  all  ages,  from  all  over  this  broad 
land,  dropping  in  at  all  hours  to  see  Mrs.  Ross  or  the  rooms 
where  she  had  experimented  with  the  national  colors?  Hav 
ing  no  quarrel  on  this  head,  I  bowled  out  upon  the  suburban 
drives,  over  miles  of  beautiful  boulevards,,  along  the  little  gem 
of  a  stream  called  the  Wissahickon,  yet  the  face  was  there ! 
"Well/'  I  said  to  myself,  "I  hope  the  gentleman  is  enjoying 
his  outing,"  and  I  turned  to  the  driver:  "We  '11  take  zwei  glass 
lager  beer  on  it  anyway,"  and  we  drove  up  to  the  road-house, 
and  quaffed  the  stranger's  health.  On  the  morrow  I  rode  out 
to  Laurel  Hill  cemetery,  gave  "Old  Mortality"  with  his  chisel 
and  hammer  a  nod  as  I  passed  in,  and  was  soon  lost  in  the 
peaceful  vales  of  this  ancient  city  of  the  dead.  For  some 
years  I  had  been  fascinated  by  the  experiences  of  Doctor  Kane 
in  the  Arctic  regions.  That  fine  scholar  with  the  noble  spirit 
of  adventure  had  just  died,  at  middle  age,  and  his  tomb  was 
a  shrine  where  I  could  worship.  As  the  cab  carried  me  out 
from  the  avenues  and  away  to  the  city  I  thought  I  caught  a 
glimpse  of  a  familiar  face.  It  seemed  grave  and  business-like, 
but  I  smiled  and  lifted  my  hat  to  it.  On  the  day  following  I 


158  Recollections  of  Pioneer  and  Army 

was  in  Washington.  I  lodged  at  the  old  Willard  Hotel,  where 
all  the  great  men  of  eld,  my  peers,  were  wont  to  put  up.  I 
lodged  in  realistic  fashion,  for  they  put  me  in  a  crypt  directly 
under  the  roof. 

Washington  was  a  scrub  town  in  those  day — a  military 
camp — and  the  commissioned  officers  blocked  the  passage-way 
at  Willard 's,  and  the  entrance  to  the  saloons  along  Pennsyl 
vania  Avenue.  The  soldiers  were  coming  and  going.  One 
poor  lad  in  uniform,  quite  exhausted,  had  sunk  down  under 
the  load  of  his  knapsack  and  accoutrements.  He  was  a  mere 
youth.  Drawn  by  his  pale  face,  General  Mansfield  approached 
and  began  conversing  with  him,  advising  and  admonishing.  In 
line  with  our  American  love  of  sensation,  I  looked  upon  the 
spot  where  Dan  Sickles  killed  Philip  Barton  Key.  I  was 
ashamed  of  myself  when  I  looked  down  on  the  slight  stump  yet 
remaining  of  the  shade-tree  in  the  brick  sidewalk  (all  that  was 
left  by  relic-hunters)  to  mark  the  place  of  the  tragedy.  Think 
of  the  human  vultures  making  off  with  the  splinters  of  the 
shade-tree  which  marks  a  lecherous  chapter  in  the  history  of 
the  capital !  Under  the  second  call  for  troops  a  large  army 
had  already  assembled  on  the  heights  around  Arlington.  The 
Army  of  the  Potomac,  however,  lacked  the  enchantment  that 
distance  gave  it,  and  I  reconsidered  my  purpose  to  join  it, 
preferring  to  return  and  trust  my  fortunes  with  the  comrades 
with  whom  I  had  already  passed  through  a  preparatory  serv 
ice.  Having  resolved,  while  I  was  on  the  ground,  to  finish  my 
visit  to  the  East,  I  spent  some  days  in  the  Capitol  building 
itself,  and  in  the  Department  buildings  (mainly  in  the  Patent 
Office  building),  where  at  that  time  were  kept  the  objects  of 
interest  most  attractive  to  an  under-age  youth  to  whom  Gen 
eral  Washington's  sword  and  Ben  Franklin's  old,  wooden 
printing  press  were  as  sacred  as  the  bodies  of  Gengis  Khan's 
ancestors  were  to  him.  And  more  than  this :  to  keep  my  spir 
its  at  the  right  point  above  low-water  mark,  the  face  of  my 
Philadelphia  double  had  a  ghostly  preference  for  me.  How 
ever,  when  I  took  the  "Bound  Brook"  route  for  New  York 


Recollections  of  Pioneer  and  Army  Life.  159 

the  familiar  face  came  and  sat  down  in  the  seat  with  me  and 
we  got  real  chummy,  he  having  made  up  his  mind,  without 
any  assistance  from  me,  that  I  was  not  an  emissary  of  Jeff 
Davis,  nor  an  assassin  from  Baltimore  with  designs  on  the 
President.  We  walked  up  Broadway  together  from  the  Jersey 
ferry  at  midnight,  and  he  showed  me  into  a  nice  hotel.  No. 
144  Broadway,  for  which  act  of  courtesy  I  was  sincerely  grate 
ful,  as  I  was  a  stranger  in  the  town.  Manhattan  Island  em 
braces  its  share  of  the  visible  traces  of  the  brave  days  of  old, 
and  I  spent  some  happy  hours  there,  for  the  transfigured  scenes 
of  youth  and  young  manhood  surpass  in  interest  all  others. 
On  an  excursion  steamer  to  West  Point  in  subsequent  years 
I  fell  in  with  my  old  comrade  in  arms,  Major  Charles  S. 
Cowan,  who  was  born  in  the  city.  In  our  stroll  from  the  Gold 
Room  (the  scene  of  the  "Black  Friday")  over  to  Broadway 
we  passed  into  Trinity  church-yard,  where  he  showed  me  his 
mother's  grave.  When  the  Major  was  a  babe  occurred  the 
great  fire  in  the  history  of  old  New  York,  when  the  fire  de 
partment  was  wholly  inadequate  to  cope  with  such  a  disaster, 
and  in  the  widespread  confusion  and  destruction  of  property 
his  mother  died  from  fright  and  grief,  in  the  full  belief  that 
her  child,  which  had  been  taken  by  its  nurse  to  a  distant  block 
on  a  visit,  had  been  lost.  Trinity  and  the  interior  of  old  Saint 
Paul's,  where  Washington  worshiped,  are  haunts  not  to  be 
overlooked  by  the  young  visitor — nor  by  their  elders,  for  that 
matter. 

I  found  a  seat  in  a  coach  on  the  old  New  York  and  New 
Haven  line  through  New  England  for  Boston  in  the  month  of 
August,  a  favorable  time  for  a  visit  along  the  Atlantic  coast. 
I  had  been  dreaming  of  the  land  of  shoe-peg  oats  and  bass- 
wood  hams  since  childhood,  and  I  now  was  to  see  the  people 
of  the  old  Wooden  Nutmeg  State  in  the  very  act  of  emptying 
their  coal-scuttles  out  at  the  back  window  onto  Rhode  Island, 
and  in  this  mean  and  underhand  way  had  about  buried  "Little 
Rhody"  out  of  sight.  My  most  radiant  recollections  of  my 
mid-summer  trip  up  to  Boston  are  illuminated  by  the  bright 


160  Recollections  of  Pioneer  and  Army  Life. 

Yankee  girls  with  whom  I  exchanged  bits  of  silver  for  pieces  of 
huckleberry  pie,  which  happened  every  now  and  then,  for,  as  I 
remember,  we  jogged  along  in  no  great  hurry  and  I  had  a  good 
opportunity  to  see  the  hills,  salt-water  estuaries,  villages  and 
country  life  on  the  hunting-grounds  of  the  Pilgrim  fathers. 
As  I  rode  along  toward  the  intellectual  and  commercial  center 
of  Massachusetts  I  could  not  bring  myself  to  believe  that  the 
shadow  of  a  great  civil  war  (the  most  terrorizing  of  all  wars) 
was  at  that  moment  lowering  over  these  peaceful  landscapes. 
I  saw  no  evidence  of  it  anywhere.  And  yet  I  had  already  com 
pleted  one  term  of  military  service  and  would  soon  return  to 
resume  these  duties.  On  arriving  at  the,  hotel,  and  having  reg 
istered  and  gotten  rid  of  my  grip,  I  stepped  to  the  entrance 
and  saw  across  the  street  an  old  brick  meeting-house,  plain  as 
a  barn,  and  helf-embedded  in  the  walls,  near  the  cornice,  a 
British  cannon-ball,  fired  in  1/76  from  one  of  King  George's 
blockading  vessels.  Now,  I  had  come  to  Boston  to  see  that 
cannon-ball  and  other  coincident  things,  and  I  saluted  it  with 
unction ;  and  right  there  and  then  I  took  the  shades  of  all  the 
embattled  farmers,  each  in  his  turn,  and  gave  him,  or  it,  a  big 
hug.  I  was  so  impressionable  that  when  I  recalled  all  the  scraps 
the  patriots  used  to  have  with  the  "red-coats"  in  those  crooked 
streets  (they  have  been  straightened  since),  I  went  about  in  my 
unsophisticated  "Sucker"  way  earnestly  desiring  to  worship 
everybody  and  everything  I  met.  Down  at  King's  Chapel, 
where  the  British  stabled  their  cavalry,  I  would  not  have  been 
in  the  least  surprised  to  have  seen  the  stout)  troopers  dash 
out  like  an  arrow  from  the  bow  and  charge  Washington's 
lines  down  on  the  Common  there.  Ben  Franklin  stood  in 
bronze  close  by  and  I  saluted  him  in  abject  admiration,  and 
I  would  not  have  considered  it  a  hardship  to  have  saluted  him 
five  hundred  times  a  day  while  my  visit  lasted.  In  truth  I 
soon  reached  such  a  condition  of  chronic  salutation  that  I 
went  about  with  my  hat  poised  three  inches  above  my  head, 
where  it  rested  in  rigid  veneration  for  all  Boston  had,  could, 
would,  or  should  have.  In  this  patriotic  trance  I  came  at  last 


Recollections  of  Pioneer  and  Army  Life.  161 

to  the  foot  of  Bunker  Hill.  On  the  spot  where  Warren  fell, 
marked  by  a  tablet,  I  sorrowed  as  sincerely  as  mortals  can.  I 
did  not  see  the  monument.  I  was  too  busy  looking  for  Pres- 
cott  and  "Old  Put,"  and  the  farmers  young  and  old,  with  their 
flint-lock  muskets,  long-barreled  rifles,  and  shot-guns  carry 
ing  buckshot.  I  remarked  the  line  where  they  had  stood,  and 
I  looked  off  upon  the  bay  where  the  British  debarked,  and  I 
saw  them  form  in  line,  one  company  after  another  and  one 
battalion  after  another,  until  they  seemed  strong  enough  to 
swallow  the  hill  and  all  the  patriots  upon  it.  They  were  in  full 
uniform  and  silent,  but  they  were  not  cowards.  The  Briton 
had  been  a  soldier  for  a  thousand  years,  and  he  was  not  going 
to  balk  now.  The  battle  of  Bunker  Hill  belongs  to  your  day 
and  mine.  There  was  no  loud-resounding  circumstance  of 
war  along  that  British  line  of  battle  that  is  now  ready  to  charge 
the  hill.  The  order  to  advance  was  given  quietly.  I  am  stand 
ing  here  on  the  hill,  looking  down  at  them.  The  shadowy  forms 
of  other  days  are  around  me.  There  is  a  deep  silence  here 
also,  for  modern  civilization  is  about  to  strike  another  blow  for 
a  larger  liberty.  Crowns  and  titles  will  not  see  this  thing 
done  willingly.  England's  might  is  at  the  foot  of  this  hill  to 
see  that  it  shall  not  be  done.  Her  line  of  battle  is  already  half 
way  up  the  hill,  coming  on  with  the  masterful  resolution  she 
had  ever  shown.  They  are  nearer  now  and  coming  close. 
The  fan-Tiers  at  the  word  crouch  and  lean  forward,  looking 
keenly  along  their  rifle  barrels  with  the  fine  nerve  of  the  New 
World  hunter.  There  is  a  crash  as  the  farmers  send  their  shots 
to  the  mark.  Through  the  powder  smoke  you  can  see  the 
British  line  stagger  and  fall  in  its  own  blood,  and  they  sullen 
ly  fall  back  and  re-form  again  at  the  foot  of  the  hill.  You  know 
all  the  story  that  fills  so  bright  a  page  in  the  history  of  this 
dear  land  of  ours. 

Down  at  the  "Cradle  of  Liberty,"  I  laid  my  hand  on  its 
walls  to  assure  myself  that  it  was  still  there,  and  the  mor 
row  being  Sunday,  I  attended  the  service  at  Tremont  Temple, 
where  Jenny  Lind  had  sung  a  few  years  previously,  her  con- 


1 62  Recollections  of  Pioneer  and  Army  Life. 

cert  being  marked  by  an  enthusiastic  advertiser,  who  bid  $625 
for  first  choice  of  seats.  On  Monday  morning  I  laid  a  twenty- 
dollar  gold-piece  down  and  the  agent  gave  me  a  ticket  for 
Chicago,  and  I  was  whisked  away  through  the  Catskills  to  Al 
bany,  thence  to  Buffalo,  where  the  conductor  gave  me  a  stop 
over  for  Niagara.  On  a  moonless  night  I  stood  alone  on  the 
narrow  bridge  leading  to  Goat  Island  and  looked  down  for  the 
first  time  on  the  darkling  waters  as  they  flashed  their  myriad 
Satanic  faces  upon  me  while  they  passed  like  a  shot  from  a 
rifle  under  my  feet.  In  the  visitors'  register  on  the  Canadian 
side  I  noticed  the  autograph  of  Henry  Clay  and  other  notables 
of  the  past,  placed  some  years  before.  Here  we  put  on  our 
water-proof  suits,  and  descended  under  the  main  fall,  and  on 
the  verge  of  rock  in  the  depths  below  we  felt  as  one  might 
who  is  about  to  stop  into  eternity !  Here  I  met  some  Hen 
derson  County  Argonauts  returning  home  with  a  good  stake 
after  twelve  years'  absence.  On  the  Niagara  River  below  the 
falls  I  squandered  some  delightful  hours  and  brought  to  a 
close  my  inter-military  itineracy. 


CHAPTER  XXX. 


RE-ENUSTED  FOR  THREE  YEARS. 

Our  company  reorganized  for  the  three-year  service  un 
der  Charles  S.  Cowan,  and  assembled  along  with  the  other 
companies  of  the  regiment  at  Cairo.  The  commanding  officer 
of  our  regiment,  Colonel  James  D.  Morgan,  had  served  as 
captain  in  an  infantry  regiment  in  the  Mexican  War,  rendered 
valuable  service  at  the  battle  of  Buena  Vista  under  General 
Taylor,  and  was  a  thorough  soldier  through  natural  aptitude 
and  experience.  He  was  the  captain  of  the  Quincy  Rifles  dur 
ing  the  Mormon  troubles,  and  no  man  in  the  State  excelled 
him  in  the  mastery  of  the  evolutions  of  the  battalion.  He  was 
cool  and  clear-headed  in  an  emergency,  as  we  often  had  oc 
casion  to  remark  during  the  war,  and  in  the  preparatory 
months,  when  we  were  drilling  for  active  service,  the  dress 
parades  and  battalion  drills  of  the  "Old  Tenth"  were  interest 
ing  and  beautiful.  For  the  accuracy  and  precision  of  his  work 
at  all  times,  his  bearing  in  battle,  and  for  his  fine,  well-remem 
bered  voice,  to  which  the  battalion  became  so  well  accustomed 
— for  all  these  things,  which  play  their  part  in  rounding  out  a 
perfect  esprit  de  corps,  the  gallant  old  man,  who  died  at  the 
age  of  eighty  years,  will  not  soon  be  forgotten  by  the  survivors 
of  his  "command,"  who  claim  him  as  the  leader  par  excellence. 

The  Government  had  established  a  ship-yard  at  Mound 
City,  seven  miles  up  the  Ohio  River  from  Cairo.  Here  two 
"iron-clads"  were  in  course  of  construction,  and  the  Tenth 
was  ordered  there  late  in  the  summer  of  1861,  as  a  guard  over 
this  important  work.  Later  on,  while  the  weather  was  still 
warm,  we  were  ordered  to  join  our  brigade  at  Cairo  for  a  re- 

163 


164  Recollections  of  Pioneer  and  Army  Life. 

view  of  all  the  troops  at  the  post.  Forty  thousand  men  of  the 
different  arms  of  the  service  were  in  line,  and  the  earth  was 
tramped  till  the  dust  was  deep  and  stifling.  The  intense  heat 
and  the  suffering  of  the  men  for  water  gave  us  a  foretaste  of 
the  many  privations  in  store  for  us.  As  our  Government  ad 
vances  in  age  the  lustrums  are  apt  to  be  marked  by  the  lineal 
descendants  of  distinguished  soldiers  in  its  history  who  come 
to  the  front  in  the  activities  of  the  hour.  My  attention  was 
called  to  this  fact  by  the  appearance  among  the  general  officers 
in  charge  of  the  review  of  General  Van  Rensselaer,  a  name 
familiar  to  readers  of  "Knickerbocker"  history  on  Manhattan 
Island.  We  had  with  us  also,  in  our  campaign  in  the  Car- 
olinas,  under  Sherman,  a  general  of  division,  a  lineal  descend 
ant  of  Israel  Putnam.  When  I  found  that  we  had  a  Van 
Rensselaer  with  us  at  Cairo,  I  would  hardly  have  been  sur 
prised  to  learn  that  "Hard-koppig  Piet"  and  "The  Headless 
Horseman"  were  members  of  his  staff. 

The  people  of  southern  Illinois  were  not  all  loyal,  and  this 
was  shown  by  a  wealthy  resident  of  Mound  City  when  our 
regiment  took  possession  of  the  town.  His  large,  comfortable 
house  was  directly  on  our  route  as  we  entered  the  village:  the 
day  was  hot  and  the  men  thirsty.  It  was  a  great  surprise  to 
Mr.  Rollins  when  our  men  rushed  in  upon  his  well  to  replenish 
their  canteens.  The  old  gentleman  came  out  in  a  furious  pas 
sion  and  ordered  them  out  of  his  yard.  His  voice  was  drowned 
in  the  volley  of  chaff  the  boys  fired  at  him,  and  in  spite  of  his 
valiant  exertions  he  was  carried  off  his  feet  like  a  feather  on 
the  current  of  the  Ohio.  The  large  majority  of  our  company 
was  composed  of  the  native  born;  the  remainder  were  Ger 
mans  and  Swedes.  The  foreign-born  were  almost  to  a  man 
good  soldiers,  and  here  and  there  among  them  a  man  of  su 
perior  fibre.  This  is  shown  now,  after  an  interval  of  half  a 
century,  during  which  they  have  achieved  successful  careers  ; 
one  of  them  being  the  president  of  a  bank,  others  successful 
merchants,  live-stock  commission  agents  and  farmers.  One 
of  the  most  attractive  of  the  young  Swedes  (Albert  Peterson) 


Recollections  of  Pioneer  and  Army  Life.  165 

died  in  the  hospital  at  Mound  City,  and  his  grave,  along  with 
that  of  others  of  our  regiment,  formed  the  nucleus  of  the 
National  Cemetery  at  that  point.  It  came  in  time  to  be  a  trite 
and  indifferent  thing — the  passing  to  the  grave  of  the  bodies 
of  these  young  lovers  of  liberty  from  a  foreign  land ;  the  bier 
covered  by  the  Stars  and  Stripes ;  the  escort  and  firing-squad 
marching  to  the  funeral  note;  albeit,  it  was  a  scene  full  of 
pathos,  for  those  who  were  dear  to  them  were  still  in  far 
Scandinavia,  patiently  waiting  for  good  tidings  and  a  remit 
tance  from  the  son  who  had  gone  to  the  land  of  great  oppor 
tunity  to  seek  his  fortune. 

Our  parade-ground  was  as  level  as  a  floor,  an  advantage 
in  our  primary  military  schooling,  and  in  the  pursuit  of  daily 
routine  I  was  out  one  day  with  our  company  when  we  had 
occasion,  along  with  other  points  in  the  manual,  to  "ground 
arms,"  but  one  of  the  most  popular  soldiers  in  the  ranks  had 
difficulty  in  obeying  the  order.  With  this  exception  the  com 
pany  executed  the  simple  feat  with  ease,  but  a  gracious  provi 
dence  had  equipped  "Put"  with  an  unusually  thrifty  and  ample 
growth,  both  in  stature  and  bulk,  with  the  balance  in  favor  of 
the  latter,  and  when  the  gallent  lad  reached  the  critical  point 
in  the  posture  his  trousers  parted  at  the  tactical  cross-roads, 
making  an  exposure  of  which  the  enemy  for  target  purposes 
might  take  advantage.  On  our  return  to  quarters  he  got  a 
needle  and  thread  and  strengthened  his  base  against  assailants 
of  all  sorts  whatsoever,  and  with  admirable  foresight  followed 
up  this  bit  of  grand  strategy  by  securing  a  detail  to  the  com 
missary  department,  where  he  had  freedom  of  growth  and 
could  indulge  his  personal  preference  of  posture  without  in 
terference  and  where  he  proved  one  of  the  most  efficient  and 
useful  men  in  the  "command."  Our  regiment  occupied  a 
large  brick  factory  building,  each  company  having  a  room 
60x20  feet.  Here  in  the  evenings,  under  the  training  of  Dr. 
W.  H.  Craig,  we  became  expert  in  the  Ellsworth  Zouave 
manual. 


1 66  Recollections  of  Pioneer  and  Army  Life. 

We  first  came  under  the  observation  of  General  U.  S.. 
Grant  on  this  parade-ground.  Orders  had  been  issued  that 
the  General  would  review  our  regiment  on  a  certain  day.  We 
knew  nothing  about  him;  had  hardly  heard  of  him.  Before 
leaving  Cairo  field  orders  from  him  as  commander  of  the  De 
partment  had  been  read  to  us;  but  the  only  incident  that  had 
occurred  up  to  this  time  to  draw  my  attention  to  him  was  an 
order  read  to  us  one  evening  by  Adjutant  Joe  Rowland,  signed 
"U.  S.  Grant,  commanding,  etc.,"  and  when  the  adjutant  came 
to  the  General's  initials — in  a  Stentorian,  perfunctory  voice  he 
announced  ''United  States,"  when  on  noticing  that  "U.  S."  did 
not  stand  for  the  Government  in  that  connection  he  recovered 
himself  and  read  the  name  as  signed.  There  was  a  rumor 
that  a  man  had  succeeded  to  the  command  of  the  Department 
who  went  about  the  streets  of  Cairo  in  citizen's  clothing,  wear 
ing  an  old  plug  hat.  We  knew  so  little  about  the  matter  that  we 
did  not  identify  this  man  with  General  Grant  Our  battalion 
formed  for  review  as  appointed,  and  the  mounted  officer  who 
was  to  officiate  had  arrived  from  Cairo  for  the  purpose.  He 
sat  on  his  horse,  an  indifferent  figure,  undemonstrative,  quiet 
ly  looking  us  over.  The  usual  formality  of  presenting  arms 
gone  through  with,  the  battalion  had  massed  in  columns  by 
companies,  and  was  marching  past  the  reviewing  officer  when, 
on  account  of  our  indifferent  martial  music  (we  no  longer  had 
Tip  Prentice  with  us),  accidental  change  of  step,  or  other  mis 
fortune,  the  nature  of  which  I  have  forgotten,  we  passed  un 
der  the  eye  of  the  greatest  general  of  modern  times,  not  with 
the  faultless  front  and  rhythm  of  step  which  was  our  pride, 
but  like  a  flock  of  exasperated  goats. 

Beginning  with  Scott's  tactics,  I  learned  three  different 
manuals  during  the  first  six  months  of  my  military  service. 
Following  closely  onto  Scott's,  or  in  combination  with  it,  we 
took  up  Hardie's ;  then  at  Mound  City  I  diligently  practiced 
the  Zouave  drill  and  manual  of  attack  and  defense.  After  the 
lapse  of  fifty  years  I  have  seen  nothing  superior  to  the  Zouave 
skirmish  drill  in  use  in  1861.  It  was  controlled  by  the  voice 


Recollections  of  Pioneer  and  Army  Life.  167 

or  the  bugle,  preferably  by  the  latter,  and  always  so  in  battle. 
During  our  first  ninety  days'  service  at  Cairo  this  drill  was 
beautifully  given  on  that  level  parade-ground.  During  our 
stay  at  Mound  City  one  of  the  gun-boats  was  launched.  A 
large  assembly  of  soldiers  and  citizens  witnessed  the  event 
which  was  marked  by  the  usual  ceremonies.  When  the  full 
number  of  these  fighting-craft  was  completed  and  in  commis 
sion,  the  Mississippi  flotilla  under  Commodore  Foote,  and  later 
under  Commodore  Davis,  formed  a  formidable  arm  of  the 
service,  which  played  an  important  part  in  opening  up  the 
river  to  an  unvexed  flow  to  the  sea. 

The  hulls  of  the  boats  were  built  in  water-tight  compart 
ments,  eight  feet  square,  of  12x12  solid  white  or  live  oak  tim 
bers.  Our  guards  held  the  approaches,  with  a  reserve  on  the 
vessel  under  construction,  and  if  any  of  our  men  dropped  to 
the  bottom  of  any  of  the  compartments,  they  had  difficulty 
clambering  out,  for  the  walls  were  neatly  joined  and  smooth 
and  seven  or  eight  feet  in  depth. 

On  the  7th  of  November,  1861,  the  battle  of  Belmont  was 
fought.  We  could  hear  the  field  guns  distinctly.  On  the  next 
day  one  of  the  transports  brought  the  remains  of  some  of  our 
officers  slain  on  that  field  to  our  levee  to  be  expressed  home. 
As  we  looked  upon  their  pale  faces,  their  hands  crossed  in 
eternal  protest  against  the  deep  damnation  of  their  taking  off, 
treason  and  rebellion  assumed  their  true  significance.  Men 
will  volunteer  for  war  whose  physical  qualifications  are  noth 
ing  short  of  a  travesty  on  what  a  soldier  should  be.  In  our 
company  we  had  a  man  built  on  the  plan  of  the  Platte  River, 
which  Artemus  Ward  said  would  make  a  good  river  on  its 
edge.  This  man  had  length  and  width,  but  no  thickness.  As 
he  approached  one  could  see  distinctly  through  his  transparent 
rigging  without  the  aid  of  the  .r-ray.  The  skull  was  always 
grinning,  for  he  was  a  very  good-natured  fellow,  and  he  was 
always  sick  and  always  eating.  At  the  sutler's  and  elsewhere 
he  kept  his  pockets  replenished  between  meals.  "M.  Kom," 
namesake  of  the  original  at  the  Yellow  Banks,  called  him  "Old 


1 68  Recollections  of  Pioneer  and  Army  Life. 

Death."    This  man,  after  gliding  spiritually  throughout  camp 
for  a  few  months,  was  reabsorbed  into  private  life.     And  I 
think  at  this  precise  moment  he  must  be  somewhere  in  this 
glorious  Union  in  high  feather  with  a  big  pension,  for  such"* 
people  never  die. 

At  my  readers'  sufferance  I  will  devote  a  few  lines  to  the 
method  of  such  creatures.  Finding  the  Government  more  than 
willing  to  get  rid  of  them,  they  returned  home  to  play  the  game 
of  the  "coffee-cooler,"  to  place  himself  in  the  swim,  under  the 
patronage  of  some  gentleman  recruiting  to  secure  a  commis 
sion,  through  whose  collusion  he  was  sworn  in  again,  securing 
the  usual  perquisites  of  city,  township,  county  and  occasion 
ally  private  bounties,  amounting  in  all  to  a  considerable  sum. 
The  second  enlistment  would  not  last  long.  He  would  be  dis 
charged  the  second  time  probably,  on  the  recommendation  of 
the  surgeon  at  the  hospital.  By  this  time  he  would  have 
learned  his  lesson  well,  and  presenting  himself  before  some 
man  who  wanted  to  hire  a  substitute,  he  would  be  paid  $1,000, 
perhaps  more,  to  make  once  more  the  vicarious  sacrifice.  It 
is  only  fair  to  say  that  the  men  with  whom  I  entered  the  serv 
ice  at  the  fall  of  Fort  Sumter  did  so  without  a  thought,  hope 
or  promise  of  reward  of  any  kind.  Bounties  were  then  un 
known,  pensions  unthought  of.  As  noted  elsewhere,  we  were 
paid  in  specie  at  the  close  of  our  service  under  the  first  call. 
Our  first  payment  under  the  second  enlistment  was  made  in 
greenbacks  (the  first  we  had  seen),  crisp  and  clean,  fresh  from 
the  press.  Since  the  foundation  of  the  Government  our  people 
had  struggled  with  an  uncertain,  discounted,  if  not  fraudulent 
shinplaster  currency.  And  here  it  may  be  said  in  a  word,  but 
with  the  force  of  exact  truth,  that  among  the  many  blessings 
brought  about  by  the  Civil  War  was  a  stable,  secure  financial 
system,  which  came  to  its  full  and  rounded  perfection  when 
the  nation  anchored  at  last  on  the  resumption  of  specie  pay 
ments  with  the  gold  dollar  as  the  unit  of  value.  The  green 
backs  (promises  to  pay) — "five-twenties"  they  were  called — 
were  indeed  an  epochal  departure. 


Recollections  of  Pioneer  and  Army  Life.  169 

Uncle  Sam  was  solvent  (entirely  so),  but  he  had  no 
money,  and  assassins  were  thirsting  for  his  blood  on  all  the 
horizon  around.  Honest  man  that  he  is,  he  took  a  simple,  open, 
straightforward  way.  He  issued  promises  to  pay,  founded  on 
the  wealth  of  the  country.  He  fixed  a  time  and  manner  of 
redemption.  He  signed  the  bond.  At  a  later  day  the  people 
called  it  "fiat"  money,  but  the  greenbacks  were  a  "go" — they 
went  like  Sampson's  foxes  and  firebrands  through  the  "stand 
ing  corn."  The  pockets  of  the  people  bulged  out  with  them; 
prosperity  prospered  over  again,  and  the  North  grew  rich  be 
yond  the  dreams  of  avarice,  as  a  direct  result  of  the  war. 
Calico  sold  at  25  cents  a  yard:  but  hogs  brought  n  cents  a 
pound  on  the  hoof.  Everybody  took  greenbacks,  nothing 
doubting.  I  could  fill  my  wallet  with  them  in  Chicago  and  the 
cashier  at  the  bank  in  San  Francisco  or  Boston  would  receive 
them  without  question.  Not  so  under  the  old  regime.  Then 
the  cashier  would  get  out  his  "Bank-Note  Detector,"  adjust 
his  glasses  and  scrutinize  columns  of  names  and  titles  dignified 
as  "Banks,"  where  they  kept  in  store  a  few  old-style  coppers, 
a  poverty-stricken  assortment  of  silver,  and  a  coin  or  two  of 
gold,  all  conspicuously  displayed,  and  a  ton  of  shinplasters, 
shown  with  less  effrontery.  In  those  days  a  cashier  was  em 
ployed  for  his  accomplishments  as  a  persuader.  His  business 
was  to  stand  at  his  window  and  convince  people  by  some  hocus- 
pocus  that  the  shinplasters  he  was  shoving  at  them  would  not 
expire  before  they  could  unload  them  on  some  other  fellow. 
Here  in  the  greenbacks  we  had  a  universal  currency;  a  finan 
cial  heaven  we  had  never  aspired  to  and  did  not  feel  worthy 
of.  We  had  discovered  another  Beatitude :  "Blessed  is  he  that 
hath  a  barrel  of  them." 

But  our  ancient  enemy,  John  Bull,  would  have  none  of 
them.  Andrew  D.  White  in  his  memoirs  gives  testimony  to  the 
light  in  which  the  financial  circles  of  London  looked  upon  our 
issue  of  currency  to  carry  on  the  war:  "Drawing  money  one 
morning  in  one  of  the  large  banks  of  London,  I  happened  to 
exhibit  a  few  of  the  new  national  greenback  notes  which  had 


170  Recollections  of  Pioneer  and  Army  Life. 

been  recently  issued  by  our  Government.  The  moment  the 
clerk  saw  them  he  called  out  loudly,  'Don't  offer  us  any  of 
those  things ;  we  don't  take  them ;  they  will  never  be  good  for 
anything.'  I  was  greatly  vexed,  of  course,"  says  Mr.  White, 
"but  there  was  no  help  for  it."  John  Bull  sings  a  different 
song  nowadays ! 

I  took  the  clean  bright  bills  from  the  paymaster  and  ex 
pressed  them  home.  Good  money !  I  had  no  doubt  of  it. 
Good  as  gold.  Taken  on  faith ;  faith  in  a  good  cause.  Faith 
in  God !  And  I  communed  to  myself :  Uncle  Sam's  promise 
to  pay  had  gone  forth  to  the  world.  He  must  make  good. 
And  he  has  placed  a  rifle  in  my  hands  that  carries  nine  hun 
dred  yards  and  sent  me  South  on  a  righteous  errand  with  this 
injunction,  "See  thou  to  that."  There  never  was  an  hour  dur 
ing  the  four  years  that  I  did  not  feel  the  force  of  that  obliga 
tion.  It  bore  me  up  through  good  and  evil  report;  in  light 
and  darkness ;  in  weakness  and  strength ;  down  to  that  moment 
when,  standing  under  the  dripping  trees  in  North  Carolina  in 
the  driving  rain,  chilled  to  the  marrow,  we  were  told  that  Lee 
had  surrendered ;  that  we  must  finish  Joe  Johnston ;  and  then 
we  could  go  home ! 


CHAPTER  XXXI. 


OUR  FIRST  ENCOUNTER  WITH  A  CONTRABAND. 

During  the  winter  of  1861-62  general  orders  were  issued 
for  the  concentration  of  troops  at  Bird's  Point,  opposite  Cairo, 
in  Missouri,  and  on  the  Kentucky  and  Illinois  shores  in  that 
vicinity,  for  a  projected  movement  down  the  Mississippi  un 
der  General  John  Pope,  and  a  similar  movement  up  the  Ten 
nessee  against  Fort  Donelson,  and  on  to  Pittsburg  Landing, 
under  General  U.  S.  Grant.  Preparatory  to  these  movements 
and  for  the  purpose  of  confusing  the  enemy,  our  regiment  be 
came  part  of  the  4th  Brigade  of  10,000  men,  under  the  com 
mand  of  Gen.  John  A.  McClernand,  to  threaten  the  fortified 
rebel  post  at  Columbus.  It  was  a  mid-winter  march,  the  weath 
er  was  severe,  with  a  considerable  fall  of  snow  and  rain,  and 
the  reconnaissance,  while  it  fulfilled  its  purpose,  was  far  from 
a  round  of  pleasure ;  the  rough  clay  roads,  worked  into  an 
almost  impassable  condition  by  the  artillery  and  trains,  made 
the  progress  of  the  infantry  slow  and  difficult.  While  in  camp 
at  Fort  Holt,  after  our  return  from  this  detour,  an  incident 
occurred  which  will  throw  light  on  the  status  of  the  slave  at 
the  opening  of  the  war.  We  were  still  splitting  hairs  over 
the  question,  whether  we  were  fighting  to  save  the  Union  as 
it  is,  or  as  it  ought  to  be.  We  had  men  on  both  sides  of  this 
question,  and  while  the  majority,  if  put  to  the  test,  undoubted 
ly  were  anti-slavery,  the  North  through  observation  had  be 
come  so  accustomed  to  the  "peculiar  institution"  that  many 
doubted  whether  we  might  or  could  get  rid  of  it.  Ben  Butler 
had  not  as  yet  defined  the  slave  as  contraband  who  had  taken 
refuge  within  our  lines.  And  so  it  came  about  that  a  young 
fugitive  slave  within  our  lines  but  a  few  hours  gave  rise  to 


172  Recollections  of  Pioneer  and  Army  Life. 

a  new  experience.  McClernand,  the  commander  of  this  expe 
dition,  was  a  radical  pro-slavery  politician.  The  slave's  master 
had  a  clew  or  suspicion  that  his  chattel  was  in  hiding  among 
the  troops,  and  applied  at  the  general's  headquarters  for  as 
sistance  to  recover  him.  There  was  an  impression  current 
that  our  regiment  had  possession  of  the  colored  boy ;  the 
charge  was  in  fact  whispered  around  that  the  nigger  was  in 
E's  wood-pile.  The  general's  partisan  zeal  was  aroused,  and 
he  applied  at  Colonel's  Morgan's  headquarters  for  informa 
tion,  but  without  result.  When,  as  in  blind  man's  buff,  the 
search  got  warm,  our  men  were  non-committal;  if  questioned, 
they  answered  that  they  had  not  come  South  to  hunt  niggers. 
No  discovery  was  made.  The  troops  were  under  orders  to 
move.  The  transports  were  at  the  landing  to  take  the  division 
across  the  river.  McClernand  had  his  spies  out,  and  when  the 
train  came  down  to  drive  aboard,  our  wagon  was  searched  and 
the  young  slave  dragged  out  from  under  the  load  of  tents  and 
equipage  and  handed  over  to  his  master.  This  incident  had 
a  marked  effect  on  our  personal  fortunes.  McClernand's  prej 
udices  were  aroused  against  us,  and  our  regiment  was  omitted 
from  the  troops  selected  to  fight  the  battles  of  Fort  Donelson 
and  Shiloh.  But  for  that  colored  boy  doubtless  the  bones  of 
many  of  us  would  now  be  resolving  to  earth  on  those  famous 
fields. 

On  a  bright  day  in  February,  after  a  season  of  prolonged, 
dismal,  severe  weather,  I  was  standing  on  the  levee  at  Cairo 
when  a  fleet  of  transports,  coming  down  the  Ohio,  landed  the 
Confederate  prisoners  from  Fort  Donelson  and  were  taken  on 
to  Rock  Island.  It  was  an  impressive  scene  and  rejoiced  the 
hearts  of  the  loyal  North. 

In  compliance  with  a  general  order  for  the  concentration 
of  troops,  the  Tenth  Illinois  made  its  final  exit  from  the 
preparatory  school  at  Mound  City  and  winter  quarters  in 
cabins  at  Bird's  Point,  on  the  Mississippi  shore,  opposite  Cairo, 
whence  we  entered  upon  those  great  campaigns  under  Gen 
erals  Pope,  Halleck,  Rosecrans,  Thomas,  Grant,  and  finally 


Recollections  of  Pioneer  and  Army  Life.  173 

Sherman,  which  terminated,  so  far  as  I  was  personally  con 
cerned,  on  the  4th  day  of  July,  1865,  after  the  exhausted  Con 
federate  armies  had  surrendered  and  our  Government  rested 
once  more  in  the  peace  and  security  of  restored  sovereignty. 

While  at  this  camp  I  was  forced  to  go  to  the  hospital  for 
the  first  and  the  only  time  during  the  war,  by  a  severe  cold, 
akin  to  pneumonia,  and  I  believe  was  diagnosed  as  such  by 
one  of  the  surgeons.  I  was  convalescing  when  the  troops  broke 
camp  and  marched  South  at  the  opening  of  the  spring  cam 
paign,  and  I  stood  in  the  doorway  to  greet  my  regiment  as  it 
passed  by,  feeling  blue  as  it  disappeared  from  view  in  the 
woods.  In  a  few  days,  feeling  stronger,  I  insisted  on  rejoining 
my  regiment,  against  the  remonstrances  of  those  in  charge  at 
the  hospital.  Although  not  at  all  strong,  I  felt  well,  excepting  a 
tender  throat,  and  shouldering  my  traps,  I  boarded  a  "bob-tail" 
train,  which  took  us  as  far  as  Sykeston,  where  I  took  the  high 
way  in  company  with  others  for  the  front,  which  we  reached 
in  the  evening.  The  weather  being  mild,  I  regained  strength 
and  resumed  my  duties.  Our  brigade  occupied  a  £amp  within 
a  few  miles  of  the  rebel  fortifications  at  New  Madrid,  an  old 
town  founded  by  the  Spanish  when  under  their  jurisdiction. 

My  first  glimpse  of  Gen.  John  Pope  wa"s  had  at  this  camp 
during  a  review  of  the  troops,  when  he  rode  down  our  front 
at  break-neck  speed  on  his  dapple-gray  charger.  This  per 
formance  was  intended  to  be  very  impressive,  but  something 
in  the  appearance  of  the  horse  and  the  rider  made  it  both 
ridiculous  and  comical.  General  George  B  McClellan's  per 
formance  in  the  same  role,  while  more  grandiose,  had  essen 
tially  the  same  effect.  I  never  could  rid  myself  of  the  comical 
figure  our  dear  old  President,  Abraham  Lincoln,  used  to  make 
on  review — as  I  read  of  it  in  the  dispatches,  for  I  certainly 
never  had  the  opportunity  nor  the  desire  to  see  him  in  the 
act — his  tall,  angular  figure,  his  small  horse,  the  long  legs,  the 
tall  silk  hat,  his  coat-tails  in  horizontal  display  while  in  pursuit 
of  a  possible  jack-rabbit  for  anything  the  troops  could  de 
termine  by  the  performance. 


174  Recollections  of  Pioneer  and  Army  Life, 

I  cannot  say  certainly,  but  I  do  not  believe  Ulysses  S. 
Grant  ever  thus  displayed  himself  for  the  delectation  of  be 
holders.  It  is  possible  that  Julius  Caesar  wer.t  down  his  lines 
with  such  speed  as  he  could  thump  into  an  ass,  and  military 
gentlemen  in  all  the  ages  have  been  loth  to  surrender  the  priv 
ilege;  on  the  other  hand,  there  is  the  sense  of  majesty  and 
power  in  an  immense  army,  such  as  the  Army  of  the  Cumber 
land  before  the  battle  of  Stone  River,  passing  in  review  before 
General  Rosecrans  at  Nashville;  or  the  army  that  made  the 
March  to  the  Sea  passing  in  review  before  General  Sherman 
in  Exchange  Square,  Savannah ;  or  the  same  army,  at  Raleigh, 
North  Carolina,  after  it  had  completed  the  historic  campaigns 
in  Georgia  and  the  Carolinas,  passing  in  review  before  the 
group  of  historic  mounted  figures,  in  repose,  composed  of 
Grant,  Sherman,  Howard,  Slocum,  Schofield,  Terrill,  Schurz, 
Logan,  and  many  other  distinguished  soldiers.  Such  pictures 
as  that,  or  the  Grand  Review  at  Washington,  are  epochal  tab- 
leans  that  remain  fixed  in  the  memorv  and  are  bevond  criticism. 


CHAPTER  XXXII. 


THE  CAPTURE  OF  ISLAND  No.  10  AND  NEW  MADRID. 

On  the  1 2th  of  March,  1862,  in  the  evening  twilight,  our 
brigade  formed  and  silently  moved  out  from  camp,  the  artil 
lery  muffled,  and  the  men  cautioned  against  making  unusual 
noise.  Conversation,  when  indulged,  was  in  undertones.  In 
the  darkness  of  the  moonless  night  the  column  moved  like  an 
immense  serpent  winding  in  and  out  through  the  openings  of 
the  forest.  I  was  in  the  file  at  the  head  of  our  company  with 
Lieutenant  Sam  Wilson  and  Captain  Carr,  whose  company 
(H)  preceded  us  in  the  column.  That  officer  was  a  veteran 
of  the  Mexican  War,  of  middle  age,  who  had  seen  much  of 
the  world;  was  devoted  to  the  service,  and  kept  his  men  well 
in  hand.  We  chatted  in  low  tones  as  we  marched  along,  Cap 
tain  Carr  admonishing  his  men  at  intervals  against  the  clat 
ter  of  their  canteens,  or  the  querulous  voice  of  some  man 
who  had  difficulty  in  getting  along  amicably  with  his  neighbor. 
We  passed  rapidly  along  in  the  darkness,  and  soon  debouched 
upon  an  open  field.  Our  engineers  and  staff  officers  were  at 
hand  and  under  their  guidance  we  were  drawn  up  in  line 
facing  the  rebel  works ;  stacked  arms ;  and  in  the  inky  darkness 
found  a  line  of  rail-fence,  which  we  lifted  bodily,  noiselessly, 
and  extended  along  our  front  as  a  base  for  a  breastwork ;  then 
with  our  trenching  tools,  working  like  beavers,  we  soon  had 
an  effective  defense  against  the  enemy's  siege  guns,  for  at 
daylight  we  would  be  an  easy  mark  for  his  trained  gunners 
at  the  rebel  fort.  We  were  now  up  against  the  first  notable 
obstruction  of  the  Mississippi  south  of  Cairo,  which  consisted 
of  a  formidable  earthwork  and  siege  guns  and  a  line  of  de 
fense  works  for  infantry,  a  fleet  of  gunboats  on  the  river,  and 

175 


176  Recollections  of  Pioneer  and  Army  Life. 

the  fortifications  on  Island  No.  10  above.  On  the  left  of  our 
line  four  siege  guns  were  placed  in  position  protected  by  a 
still  heavier  earthwork.  While  we  were  engaged  in  this  work 
not  a  shot  had  been  exchanged.  If  the  rebel  pickets  heard  us, 
they  relied  upon  their  ears  rather  than  upon  their  rifles  for 
entertainment.  The  silence  remained  unbroken,  till  Captain 
Carr  left  his  company  at  their  work  in  the  trenches  and  went 
out  on  our  front  to  reconnoitre  on  his  own  account.  There 
was  a  lane  running  at  right  angles  to  our  line  of  works,  and 
along  the  ''worm"  fence  the  captain  stole  quietly.  He  loved 
his  pipe,  and  in  an  unfortunate  moment  stopped  and  struck  a 
match !  That  was  the  rebel  sharp-shooters'  opportunity,  and 
in  the  glare  of  that  little  blaze  the  veteran  received  a  mortal 
wound.  He  was  carried  to  the  farm-house  near  by,  where  he 
died  shortly  afterward.  In  the  early  dawn,  our  earthworks 
having  been  completed,  there  was  a  lively  exchange  of  Minie 
balls,  and  the  gunners  in  the  rebel  fort,  discovering  a  big  black 
hunch  in  the  corn-field  which  they  had  never  seen  before, 
trained  some  of  the  best  rifled  pieces  on  it  and  made  the  morn 
ing  exercises  interesting  for  Captain  Joe  Mower  and  his  men. 
The  captain  (later  a  major-general)  in  command  of  our  divis 
ion,  and  later  of  our  corps,  was  a  fighter,  but  he  was  out 
classed  with  his  little  hunchback  of  earthwork  and  four  guns 
against  a  deliberately  built  fort  of  approved  pattern. 

During  our  second  night  under  the  rebel  batteries  our 
company  was  on  the  outposts,  where  in  the  silence  we  could 
hear  much  that  was  going  on  behind  the  enemies'  lines.  There 
was  a  "racket"  throughout  most  of  the  night,  their  lights  were 
gleaming,  their  band  played  continuously,  and  there  was  the 
rumble  and  tumult  as  of  reinforcements  coming  in.  The 
truth  proved  to  be,  they  were  going  on  board  their  transports 
in  a  panic,  evacuating  all  their  works,  leaving  valuable  prop 
erty  behind  them.  At  daylight  we  found  their  tents  standing, 
lights  burning  in  them  and  breakfast  on  the  tables,  and  mili 
tary  stores  in  quantity  and  the  heavy  guns  in  the  fort  fell  into 
our  hands.  The  result  was  that  during  the  unequal  duel  which 


Recollections  of  Pioneer  and  Army  Life.  177 

•extended  throughout  the  previous  day,  a  center  shot  from  the 
rebel  fort  nearly  buried  Colonel  Smith  of  the  i6th  Illinois  and 
another  broke  the  muzzle  off  one  of  our  big  guns,  putting  it 
out  of  the  game.  The  captain  smiled  grimly  (a  man  in  a  fight 
always  smiles  "grimly,"  I  believe,  if  he  is  able  to  work  his  facial 
muscles  at  all)  and  landed  another  shot  a  little  closer  than  be 
fore  ;  at  all  events,  the  captain  took  a  look  at  the  enemy's  coign 
of  vantage  after  we  got  possession  of  it,  and  found  one  of  his 
guns  dismounted  and  his  household  furniture  piled  up  in  a 
"heap. 

Along  with  our  \vork  on  this  day  there  was  something  do 
ing  down  at  Point  Pleasant — pointed  but  unpleasant  for  the 
rebel  Commodore  Hollis,  which  shut  him  out  of  the  mixup.  The 
Mississippi  is  a  nice  stream  to  travel  on  if  you  have  the  stuff 
which  entitles  you  to  a  first-cabin  passage  and  a  "Northern 
line"  table  to  lunch  at  -with  a  seat  on  the  right  of  the  captain, 
and  provided  there  are  no  hunting  parties  out  looking  for  big 
game.  Up  to  this  hour  in  the  Commodore's  life  he  had  smooth 
sailing,  but  on  a  night  a  Yankee  battery  was  neatly  fitted  into 
a  depression  made  for  it  at  the  "Point"  and  a  lot  of  our  best 
wing  shots  stood  in  the  rifle-pits,  looking  bland  and  smiling  out 
over  the  water,  and,  as  usual,  the  Unsuspicious  Commodore 
came  along  with  his  flock  of  "Turtles,"  and  our  boys  scared 
Tiim  so  he  has  not  been  heard  of  to  this  day.  As  a  further 
diversion,  during  the  afternoon  the  rebels  formed  a  small  in 
fantry  force  out  of  our  sight  and  played  the  old  trick  of  march 
ing  it  around  and  around  through  the  fort  as  a  continuous 
line  of  reinforcements,  but  really  dropping  out  of  sight  be 
hind  the  fort  and  coming  in  again,  an  endless  chain.  We  were 
unbelievers  and  smiled  as  we  looked  at  the  performance. 

General  Pope  made  the  following  official  report  of  these 
operations : 

"The  ioth  and  i6th  Illinois,  commanded  respectively  by 
Colonels  J.  D.  Morgan  and  J.  R.  Smith,  were  detailed  as 
guards  to  the  prosposed  trenches  and  to  aid  in  constructing 
them.  They  marched  from  camp  at  sunset  on  the  I2th  in- 


178  Recollections  of  Pioneer  and  Army  Life. 

stant,  and  drove  in  the  pickets  and  grand  guards  of  the  enemy 
as  they  were  ordered,  at  shouldered  arms,  without  firing  a 
shot ;  covered  the  front  of  the  intrenching  parties  and  occupied 
the  trenches  and  rifle-pits  during  the  whole  day  and  night  of 
the  1 3th,  under  furious  and  incessant  cannonading  from  sixty 
pieces  of  heavy  artillery.  At  the  earnest  request  of  their  Colo 
nels,  their  regimental  flags  were  kept  flying  over  our  trenches, 
though  they  offered  a  conspicuous  mark  to  the  enemy. 

"The  coolness,  courage  and  cheerfulness  of  these  troops, 
exposed  for  two  nights  and  a  day  to  the  furious  fire  of  the 
enemy  at  close  range,  and  to  the  severe  storm  which  raged 
during  the  whole  night  of  the  I3th,  are  beyond  all  praise,  and 
delighted  and  astonished  every  officer  who  witnessed  it.'' 

General  Pope  says  in  another  connection,  referring  to  this 
movement : 

"One  brigade,  consisting  of  the  loth  and  i6th  Illinois, 
under  Colonel  Morgan,  of  the  loth,  was  detailed  to  cover  the 
construction  of  the  battery  and  to  work  in  the  trenches.  They 
were  supported  by  General  Stanley's  division,  consisting  of 
the  27th,  43d  and  63d  Ohio.  Captain  Mower,  of  the  ist  U.  S. 
Infantry,  with  Companies  A  and  H  of  his  regiment,  was  placed 
in  charge  of  the  siege  guns. 

"The  enemy's  pickets  and  grand  guards  were  driven  in  by 
Colonel  Morgan  from  the  ground  selected  for  the  battery,  with 
out  firing  a  shot,  although  the  enemy  fired  several  volleys  of 
musketry.  The  work  was  prosecuted  in  silence  and  with  the 
utmost  rapidity  until  at  3  o'clock  A.  M.  two  small  redoubts,  con 
nected  by  a  curtain  and  mounting  the  four  heavy  guns  which 
had  been  sent  me,  were  completed,  together  with  rifle-pits  in 
front  and  on  the  flanks,  for  two  regiments  of  infantry.  Our 
batteries  opened  as  soon  as  the  day  dawned  and  were  replied 
to  in  front  and  on  the  flanks  by  the  whole  of  the  enemy's  heavy 
artillery  on  land  and  water." 

W.e  had  in  our  company  an  educated  Virginian,  Absalom 
Martin,  for  whom  I  felt  a  warm  admiration  on  account  of  his 
literary  quality.  By  the  aid  of  a  good  memory  he  would  plunge 


Recollections  of  Pwneer  and  Army  Life.  179 

into  the  English  classics  and  help  me  to  divert  the  tedious 
hours  in  camp.  He  had  a  premonition  of  his  fate.  We  were 
seated  on  our  breastworks  one  evening  after  the  enemy  had 
ceased  firing  at  us,  when  he  said  to  me:  "If  I  should  fall  dur 
ing  this  revolution  [I  use  the  exact  words],  I  want  you  to 
write  to  my  wife  and  tell  her  all  about  me."  I  replied  that  I 
would  be  glad  if  I  should  never  have  occasion  to  comply  with 
his  request.  His  ordinary  mood  was  that  of  a  cheerful  good 
humor,  and  although  physically  too  weighty  a  man  for  active 
service,  he  got  along  very  well  until  after  the  close  of  our  opei 
ations  around  New  Madrid,  when  it  was  noticed,  while  on  the 
transports  going  South,  that  he  was  not  well.  On  our  return 
up  river,  on  the  way  to  Pittsburg  Landing,  during  a  stop  at 
Cairo,  he  was  sent  to  the  hospital.  From  thence  he  was  for 
warded  on  a  hospital  steamer,  along  with  hundreds  of  others, 
to  one  of  the  large  general  hospitals  in  St.  Louis,  from  whence 
we  were  notified  of  his  death.  The  letter  from  his  wife  in 
response  to  one  from  me  concerning  him  was  painful  reading. 
Concurrently  our  friends  were  busy  up  at  the  Island. 
Colonel  Roberts  (that  gallant,  deeply  lamented  .hero  of  the 
42d  Illinois,  who  fell  at  Stone  River),  with  a  picked  squad  of 
his  boys,  dropped  in  upon  General  McKown  at  vespers  and 
spiked  his  guns,  and  on  a  stormy  night  the  "Pittsburg"  ran 
the  rebel  batteries  and  got  safely  down  to  the  New  Madrid 
landing,  where  we  were  waiting  for  it.  Withal,  the  opening 
along  the  bayous  for  the  transports  had  been  completed,  and 
while  our  brigade  stood  in  arms  on  the  shore,  lo !  a  steamer 
came  walking,  as  it  were,  out  of  the  woods,  landed,  and  took 
us  aboard.  There  was  a  rebel  earthwork  on  the  opposite  shore 
and  the  "Pittsburg"  dropped  out  into  the  stream  and  sent  a 
few  plunging  shots  at  it.  There  was  no  response,  and  the 
transports  carried  us  promptly  to  the  Tennessee  shore,  and  a 
foot-race  began  to  interpose  our  force  across  the  rebel  line  of 
retreat  from  the  Island  above.  Our  brigade  had  the  advance ; 
quick  time  was  made,  and  before  night  came  on  we  had  taken 
up  our  positions  with  strong  picket  forces  out.  Our  own  com- 


i8o  Recollections  of  Pioneer  and  Army  Life. 

pany  occupied  an  outpost,  where  we  took  prisoners  in  number 
equal  to  our  own  strength — regular  Arkansas  travelers ;  armed 
with  frontier  "toothpicks,"  home-made,  on  the  anvil,  and  rifles, 
muskets  and  revolvers  and  every  description  of  shot-gun  that 
had  been  made  up  to  that  time;  one  of  these  a  giant  shot-gun 
that  only  a  giant  could  carry  or  wish  to  fire.  During  the  night 
the  commander  of  the  rebel  army  at  the  Island,  whose  forces 
we  had  barred  in  their  efforts  to  escape,  sent  in  a  communica 
tion  asking  for  terms  of  surrender.  These  having  been  agreed 
upon,  the  rebel  army  (infantry  and  batteries)  filed  onto  open 
ground,  nearer  the  river,  in  the  vicinity  of  a  hamlet  named 
Tiptonville,  close  at  hand,  and  stacked  their  arms.  I  cannot 
say  that  the  stars  in  their  courses  contributed  to  our  success 
in  these  operations,  or  that  our  foe  lacked  courage  and  skill. 
I  am  sure  that  those  rebel  soldiers  of  the  Southwest  lacked 
nothing  essential  to  the  real  soldiei.  The  use  of  fire-arms,  and 
fighting  of  one  kind  or  another,  was  an  everyday  affair  with 
them— almost  a  pastime ;  and  I  feel  that  I  am  stating  the  exact 
truth  in  saying  that  those  backwoodsmen  whom  our  company 
corraled  as  prisoners  at  our  outpost  could,  man  for  man,  have 
"wiped  the  ground"  with  us  on  a  fair  field  and  no  favor. 

The  reasons  for  our  success  include  some  curious  facts. 
Precisely  fifty  years  in  advance  of  our  appearance  before  New 
Madrid  a  great  convulsion  of  Nature  had  changed  the  features 
of  the  landscape  from  the  mouth  of  the  Ohio  River  to  the  St. 
Francis.  Where  once  had  been  level  fanning  lands  and  high 
plateaus  covered  by  the  ancient  forest,  appeared  lakes  of  great 
depth  or  depressions  difficult  to  pas's.  The  seismic  disturb 
ances  of  1811-16  (for  they  covered  the  interval  between  these 
years)  involved  this  whole  region  and  were  the  severest  in  the 
immediate  vicinity  of  our  operations.  No  disturbance  of  the 
kind  recorded  since  the  landing  of  Columbus  could  compare 
with  it.  The  best  authorities  state  the  movements  were  of 
two  kinds — a  perpendicular  and  the  horizontal ;  that  the  latter 
was  the  most  destructive;  that  it  moved  in  immense  waves, 
increasing  in  size  as  they  progressed  until  they  were  the  height 


Recollections  of  Pioneer  and  Army  Life.  181 

of  the  trees,  which  tossed  and  tumbled  together,  the  earth 
opening  and  discharging  great  volumes  of  water,  sand,  coal 
and  rock.  Whole  districts  of  fertile  country  were  covered  to 
a  depth  with  white  sand,  and  in  other  places  the  earth  and 
forest  sank,  forming  lakes  some  of  them  twenty  miles  in  length. 
Adjutant  Theodore  Wiseman,  of  our  brigade,  assured  me  that 
previous  to  the  war  he  had  passed  in  a  hunting-boat  with  his 
fowling-piece  over  submerged  forests  in  this  region,  the  trees 
standing  upright  where  they  had  sunk.  The  grave-yard  of 
New  Madrid  and  large  tracts  of  land  with  it  were  swallowed 
up  by  the  great  river,  and  chasms  and  crevices  appeared  across 
which  the  few  inhabitants  of  the  country  crawled  upon  trees 
where  they  happened  to  span  these  gulfs.  As  a  result  of  this 
earthquake  the  region  around  Island  No.  10 — which  since  the 
close  of  the  war  has  wholly  disappeared  in  the  current  of  the 
Mississippi — extending  on  down  the  river  and  embracing  all 
the  country  on  both  shores  below  New  Madrid,  was  so  broken 
up  by  lakes  and  the  scars  of  this  convulsion  that  the  passage 
out  from  the  Island  by  an  army  under  the  restrictions  of  an 
investment  was  not  a  job  to  be  relished  by  the  most  competent 
of  military  commanders.  The  difficulties  of  the  situation  were 
greatly  increased  by  high  water.  The  Father  of  Waters  was 
rolling  one  of  his  immense  spring  tides  to  the  sea  and  was  a 
majestic  spectacle.  The  tributary  streams  were  overflowing, 
and  I  hive  said  enough  to  show  that  the  Confederacy  was  in 
hard  luck  in  her  struggle  with  Nature,  to  say  nothing  of  John 
Pope  and  his  army. 

A  field  battery  of  the  Washington  artillery  (the  pride  of 
the  South),  manned  by  young  bloods  from  New  Orleans,  was 
a  part  of  the  trophies  of  this  campaign.  These  gallant  young 
French  Creoles  and  their  beautiful  brass  guns  won  our  sym 
pathies,  and  I  had  an  interesting  talk  with  a  lieutenant  of  the 
company  as  we  stood  on  the  shore  looking  out  over  the  great 
river.  He  was  courteous,  intelligent,  undismayed  by  their  ill 
fortune,  and  had  a  rock-rooted  faith  that  the  South  would 
never  be  overcome.  Our  prisoners  followed  those  of  Fort 


1 82      •      Recollections  of  Pioneer  and  Army  Life. 

Donelson  to  Rock  Island,  while  a  fleet  of  transports  assembled 
at  New  Madrid,  and,  convoyed  by  the  flotilla  of  gunboats,  the 
Army  of  the  Mississippi  descended  the  river  to  a  point  on  the 
Arkansas  shore  in  the  vicinity  of  Chickasaw  Bluffs,  the  next 
fortified  stronghold  placed  to  dispute  our  passage.  It  was  a 
notable  .^cene — our  descent  of  the  river;  so  many  of  the 
steamers,  often  in  full  view,  crowded  with  troops:  hesitating 
at  intervals  on  the  broad  bosom  of  the  water,  at  a  signal  of 
caution  from  the  iron-clads  which  were  the  advance  guard, 
on  the  discovery  of  one  of  the  enemy's  "Turtles,"  half  hid 
around  the  point  of  an  island,  when  the  boom  of  one  of  our 
rifled  chasers  woke  the  deep  echoes  of  the  desolate  region. 


CHAPTER  XXXIII. 


FROM  SHILOH  TO  CORINTH  UNDER 

The  surprises,  involving  sudden  change  of  direction  and 
thwarting  well-laid  schemes,  during  the  Civil  War,  are  well 
illustrated  in  the  change  in  our  fortunes  while  waiting  in  this 
Arkansas  camp  for  the  order  to  advance.  We  were  startled 
by  the  news  from  Shiloh,  and,  under  an  order  from  Washing 
ton,  re-embarked  and  made  the  long  journey  back  to  Cairo  and 
up  the  Tennessee  River  to  Hamburg,  where  I  met  Will  H. 
Scroggs,  an  old  classmate,  who  make  a  diagram  with  his  finger 
on  the  ground  to  show  me  the  position  of  his  regiment  and 
the  general  line  occupied  by  our  troops  at  the  battle  of  Pitts- 
burg  Landing.  We  had  a  close  personal  interest  in  this  fight, 
for  our  old  colonel  (later  general),  Ben  M.  Prentiss,  and  most 
of  his  division,  after  a  prolonged  struggle,  were  surrounded 
and  captured  and  taken  to  Richmond.  The  Army  of  the 
Mississippi  (now  no  longer  such),  under  Gen.  John  Pope,  be 
came  the  left  wing  of  Gen.  Halleck's  grand  army,  and  advanced 
on  Corinth,  along  the  Farmington  road.  Halleck's  entire  force 
comprised  more  than  100,000  men,  and  it  was  an  army  worthy 
of  any  commander.  The  enemy  kept  us  busy.  After  the  ex 
perience  at  Shiloh,  we  were  wary  and  made  our  reconnaissance 
in  force.  General  E.  H.  Paine,  of  Monmouth,  a  West  Point 
graduate,  was  our  brigade  commander.  He  was  a  man  of 
"nerve,"  and  in  many  respects  an  accomplished  soldier.  Our 
first  reconnaissance  was  in  a  heavily  wooded  country,  so  diffi 
cult  to  operate  in,  for  almost  every  step  in  advance  was  a  sur 
prise  of  some  kind.  The  "Yates  Sharp-shooters,"  armed  with 
globe-sighted  rifles,  were  our  close  comrades  and  the  appoint 
ed  skirmishers  of  our  brigade.  At  a  crossing,  close  to  the  edge 


184  Recollections  of  Pioneer  and  Army  Life. 

•of  the  dark,  heavy  timber,  a  number  of  the  enemy  were  killed 
trying  to  get  over  an  open  space  to  a  refuge.  On  the  low 
ground  we  halted  for  a  few  moments,  when  a  neatly  dressed 
young  rebel  officer  came  out  of  the  woods  on  our  company's 
front  to  give  himself  up,  crying  out  to  us  not  to  fire  upon  him 
— "Don't  fire,  gentlemen,"  he  said ;  he  was  submissive  now,  but 
afterward,  when  he  found  he  was  being  treated  according  to 
the  rules  of  civilized  warfare,  he  became  very  abusive.  Be 
yond  this  timber  there  was  high  open  ground,  which  the  enemy 
stubbornly  held.  There  was  some  delay,  when  General  Paine, 
becoming  restless,  passed  through  our  lines,  and  having  made 
his  observations,  we  forced  our  way  under  fire  out  upon  ris 
ing,  open  ground.  Our  line  was  now  the  target  for  an  enemy 
we  could  not  see  in  the  woods  west  of  us.  At  this  moment 
Houghteling's  Battery  passed  us  like  a  flash,  unlimbered  on  a 
knoll  on  our  right  and  shelled  the  woods,  which  we  followed 
up  with  a  charge  that  cleared  our  front  of  the  enemy  for 
that  day. 

It  was  a  warm  morning  in  May  \vhen  the  long  roll  called 
us  to  arms.  Our  camp  was  on  a  high  wooded  ridge  with  open 
ings  to  the  south  upon  the  Farmington  plains,  a  park-like 
plateau,  with  copses  of  wood  here  and  there,  and  covered  with 
bluegrass.  Looking  south  upon  this  partially  open  country, 
we  saw  an  army  with  banners  like  a  stereoscopic  picture 
suddenly  cast  upon  canvas — a  reconnoitering  force,  twenty 
thousand  strong,  led  by  John  C.  Breckenridge.  The  facts  were 
as  we  now  know  them  to  be:  Beauregard's  army  in  Corinth 
was  getting  ready  to  abscond  and  did  not  wish  to  be  crowded 
in  the  act,  fearing  it  might  not  be  a  success ;  hence  this  bluff 
(the  battle  of  Farmington)  on  our  front  this  day.  Our  army 
was  drawn  up  in  line  to  receive  them,  and  at  one  or  two 
points  of  contact  there  was  severe  fighting,  but  the  Confed 
erate  force  withdrew  without  bringing  on  a  general  engage 
ment.  Following  up  this  diversion,  we  advanced  to  the  village 
and  threw  up  a  formidable  line  of  breastworks.  Tarrying  here 
"briefly,  we  advanced  within  striking  distance  of  Corinth.  Here 


Recollections  of  Pioneer  and  Army  Life,  185 

was  a  beautiful  pasture-like  country  studded  with  parks  of 
"Napoleons,"  or  "rifled  parrots,"  and  all  the  paraphernalia  of 
a  great  army.  As  our  lines  of  circumvallation  shortened  a 
portion  of  this  splendid  equipment  was  necessarily  held  in  re 
serve.  On  the  last  day  of  our  operations  on  the  front  of 
Beauregard's  army  we  came  into  line  in  the  early  morning. 
We  occupied  the  south  line  of  an  open  field,  across  which, 
posted  along  the  edge  of  a  wood,  were  the  rebel  outposts.  As 
we  stood  in  line  waiting,  the  "Yates  Sharp-shooters"  deployed 
rapidly  upon  our  front  and  passed  gallantly  across  the  field 
in  face  of  the  enemy.  We  held  our  breath  for  a  time,  fearing 
some  of  our  lads  would  fall;  but  they  employed  the  Zouave 
trick  of  always  keeping  in  motion,  and  the  line,  including  the 
major  in  command  on  his  black  charger,  coolly  riding  up  and 
down  writh  his  men,  had  a  wonderful  escape.  As  I  remember, 
only  one  or  two  were  wounded.  Our  line  of  battle  was  many 
miles  in  length — through  swamp  and  thicket,  over  hills,  across 
gullies,  at  the  door  of  farm-houses,  closing  in  on  all  sides  of 
the  fortified  town  except  a  door  of  escape  by  the  B.  &  O.  Rail 
road,  which  it  was  the  Confederate  commander's  especial  care 
to  keep  open.  At  intervals  along  the  line  sharp  fighting  took 
place.  The  day  was  occupied  on  our  own  front  in  forcing 
our  way  close  up  under  the  rebel  works,  the  yellow  clay  of 
which  we  had  glimpses  of  through  the  woods.  An  infantry 
force  came  out  under  cover  of  the  thick  underbrush  on  our 
front  to  dispute  our  further  advance,  and  our  sharp-shooters 
had  to  withdraw.  At  the  moment  one  of  our  batteries  opened 
on  them  with  grape.  Between  the  volleys  a  remnant  of  our 
skirmish-line  ran  crouching  back  into  our  lines.  We  looked 
for  the  enemy  to  advance  upon  us,  but  he  refused  our  chal 
lenge.  At  nightfall  we  supped  on  what  we  had  in  our  haver 
sacks  and  lay  down  in  our  blankets,  guessing  on  the  morrow. 
At  midnight  we  were  suddenly  aroused  by  a  succession  of  ex 
plosions  which  could  be  heard  for  miles,  accompanied  by  the 
prolonged  cheering  of  the  rebel  troops.  Now,  Beauregard 
might  have  sneaked  away  more  easily  than  to  have  kept  his 


1 86  Recollections  of  Pioneer  and  Army  Life. 

men  out  of  their  blankets  yelling  themselves  hoarse  trying  to 
make  the  impression  that  they  were  receiving  reinforcements. 
We  stood  in  groups  in  our  blankets  in  the  chill  night  air  (in 
the  South  the  temperature  is  low  from  midnight  to  dawn  and 
our  ponchos  reeked  with  dew  when  we  woke  up),  assuring  one 
another  that  the  rebel  army  was  destroying  what  they  could 
not  carry  away.  The  fumbling  of  trains  was  incessant,  loaded 
with  our  departing  friends  in  their  hurried  flight. 

In  the  wake  of  our  cavalry  our  brigade  had  the  advance 
in  the  pursuit,  for  a  portion  of  the  retreating  army  occupied 
the  roads  leading  south  from  the  town.  As  we  entered  the 
village  but  one  man  greeted  us — a  typical  hook-nosed  Jew  with 
a  peddler's  pack  on  his  back.  He  crawled  out  of  a  wet  brush- 
heap  and  solicited  comradeship.  The  wandering  Jew  is  the 
real  thing  when  we  want  to  label  a  man  doing  business  under 
difficulties.  We  came  up  with  the  rebel  rear  guard  at  the 
Hatchie  River.  They  had  burned  the  bridge,  and  their  cavalry 
videttes  occupied  the  south  bank.  At  this  point  our  pursuing 
cavalry  suffered  a  severe  check  and  retired  in  our  favor.  They 
came  upon  this  ground  in  the  early  morning  hours,  before  it 
was  yet  dawn,  cautiously  feeling  their  way.  At  a  sharp  turn 
in  the  road,  close  to  the  bridge,  the  advance  was  literally 
blown  from  the  muzzles  of  a  rebel  battery  ambushed  to  cover 
the  approach.  The  spot,  marked  by  the  dead  horses,  was  the 
subject  of  remarks  as  we  passed.  Our  company  (E)  was  here 
detailed  to  advance  and  discover  the  strength  of  the  rebel 
videttes  holding  this  crossing.  We  filed  down  into  the  woods 
to  the  left  of  the  burned  bridge  and  advanced  at  will  toward 
the  river  bank,  each  man  selecting  his  own  cover  from  whence 
he  could  fire  upon  the  ambushed  enemy  waiting  for  us  on  the 
opposite  bank.  We  were  well  to  the  front,  having  gained  a 
hundred  yards  advance,  when  Sergeant  George  W.  Cowden 
had  his  arm  broken  by  a  shot  from  the  hidden  foe.  As  we 
could  not  charge  him  across  the  stream,  we  poured  a  volley 
into  the  brush  where  he  was  hidden,  with  good  effect,  for  he 
decamped  without  ceremony.  The  pursuit  of  Beauregard's 


Recollections  of  Pioneer  and  Army  Life.  187 

army  was  given  over  to  our  cavalry,  and  we  went  into  camp 
at  Big  Springs  near  Corinth.  We  were  here  during  the  black 
berry  season  and  recovered  from  the  fatigues  of  the  campaign 
indulging  in  pie  sicklied  o'er  with  the  pale  cast  of  crust  con 
structed  without  those  helps  down  in  milady's  cook-book  as 
the  shortening  and  baking  powder.  They  were  just  cobbled — 
those  pies.  Possibly  Martha  Washington  regaled  Uncle  George 
with  something  better,  as  she  had  saleratus  and  sour  milk.  I 
don't  know.  The  boys  dug  a  hole  in  the  side  of  the  hill  and 
built  what  they  called  an  oven,  where  they  baked  those  pies. 
I  did  not  think  it  good  manners  to  inquire  too  closely  about 
that  oven.  I  contemplated  it  respectfully  at  a  distance.  Some 
how  our  pies  had  no  color.  They  must  have  had  tuberculosis, 
for  they  perished  prematurely. 

Dave  Sage  was  our  tonsorial  artist  at  this  point,  famed 
for  the  superior  style  of  his  "cut,"  and  for  the  way  he  in 
spired  the  boys  to  spruce  up.  When  David  got  through  with 
the  army,  the  men  looked  like  a  lot  of  dudes.  When  he  had 
trimmed  and  slicked  up  the  last  man,  he  had  hair  enough  on 
hand  to  start  a  hair-mattress  factory.  He  was  our  pride,  and 
distinguished  for  his  versatile  talents.  Wrhen  he  took  a  patron 
in  hand,  he  finished  him  for  a  swell  function  of  any  kind.  He 
shaved  him  and  "shingled"  him,  stuck  mint  in  his  nose,  sham 
pooed  and  manicured  him,  laid  him  on  a  board  and  pinched 
and  punched  and  slapped  and  rolled  him  under  massage,  rub 
bed  in  some  skin  food,  shook  him,  and  made  him  stand  up  like 
a  man  and  look  like  somebody. 


CHAPTER  XXXIV. 


THE  MARCH  TO  TUSCUMBIA  AND  NASHVIIAE. 

At  the  close  of  a  day's  march  toward  Tuscumbia,  Ala 
bama,  at  nightfall,  supper  over,  we  gathered  our  mounts  on 
short  notice  (a  group  of  the  line  officers  and  subalterns)  and 
struck  off  at  right  angles  into  the  enemy's  country  for  a  moon 
shiner's  headquarters  of  which  we  had  been  advised  by  one 
of  our  scouts.  An  hour's  rapid  riding  from  our  outposts 
brought  us  into  a  desolate,  uninhabited,  hilly  region  within 
striking  distance  of  the  rebel  cavalery.  We  slowed  down  and 
advanced  cautiously  with  a  small,  alert,  advance  guard.  There 
was  no  moon  and  the  darkness  and  silence  made  our  ears  re 
ceptive  of  every  sign  or  noise  outside  of  our  own  group. 
About  9  o'clock  we  came  suddenly  upon  the  cluster  of  cabins 
well  within  a  small  canyon,  withdrawn  from  the  prying  world 
without,  which  composed  the  "still"  characteristic  of  the  South 
in  ante-bellum  days,  where,  judging  from  the  quantities  of 
ancient  pumice  lying  in  heaps  around,  the  quality  of  "chain 
lightning"  known  as  peach  brandy  had  been  manufactured  for 
a  hundred  years.  Having  posted  pickets,  we  took  an  inventory 
of  the  "still"  in  the  darkness.  The  premises  stank  of  alcohol. 
Strong  as  the  odors  were,  they  were  so  conflicting  that  we 
could  not  locate  the  best  in  stock  in  the  darkness  by  smell 
alone,  and  we  strode  noiselessly  to  the  door  of  the  moon 
shiner's  cabin  and  tapped  it  softly,  one,  two,  three,  and  an 
object  came  to  the  door  and  we  said  to  it,  "Stranger,  we  are 
around  looking  at  the  country  for  an  uncle  of  ours :  have  you 
anything  at  hand  with  which  to  cheer  belated  travelers?" 
With  great  apparent  alacrity,  but  with  a  subdued,  apprehen 
sive  voice,  the  figure  out  of  the  darkness  answered :  "It 's  likker 
188 


Recollections  of  Pioneer  and  Army  Life.  189 

you'ns  'd  like?"  "Stranger,"  replied  the  captain,  ''you  're  warm; 
hand  her  out."  Without  ado,  the  old  mountaineer  rolled  a  keg 
out  at  the  door,  saying,  "Thar  ain't  much  in  yer,  but  it 's  all 
1  hev."  The  contents  were  drawn  into  canteens,  the  cabin- 
door  closed  softly,  and  we  were  promptly  on  the  road  for 
camp.  We  had  hardly  got  away  from  the  ''still"  when  at  a 
low  signal  we  stood  motionless  in  the  road.  There  was  a 
movement  at  the  front  which  cast  a  doubt  in  the  minds  of  our 
advance,  and  the  riders  parted  equally  to  each  side  of  the  road, 
sheltered  in  the  heavy  forest,  and  stood  on  their  guard,  listen 
ing  and  waiting.  After  a  brief  interval  and  a  sign  of  restored 
confidence,  we  covered  the  miles  into  camp  at  a  rattling  pace. 
The  round  trip  had  been  made  in  comparative  silence,  and  was 
wholly  free  of  bibulous  traits.  It  was  undertaken  at  the  in 
stance  of  John  Tillson  and  other  headquarters  gentlemen  of 
like  tastes,  simply  to  equip  their  circle  with  the  cup  which 
cheers.  I  joined  the  expedition  with  no  better  motive  than 
that  of  adventure. 

Of  the  many  beautiful  springs  in  the  South — at  luka, 
Huntsville,  Nashville,  and  Rome — from  which  we  filled  our 
canteens,  I  am  sure  the  spring  at  Tuscumbia  is  the  most  won 
derful  of  all,  worthy  of  a  journey  of  a  thousand  miles  to  see. 
It  rushes  from  the  rock  a  river  in  volume  and,  like  the  jester  in 
cap  and  bells,  goes  plunging  and  dancing  away  over  the  rocks, 
glittering  in  the  sunlight  and  shaking  with  merriment.  If  I 
were  an  artist,  I  would  return  to  Tuscumbia  and  lay  upon 
my  canvas  the  old  colored  "auntie"  coming  up  from  the 
spring,  with  the  turban  of  color  around  her  head,  a  pail  of 
water  balanced  upon  it,  her  pickaninnies  happy  all  the  day,  in 
her  train. 

On  one  of  the  lonely  hillsides  near  that  town  we  buried 
one  of  our  Swede  boys.  Alabama — "Here  we  rest."  It  used 
to  be  said  of  one  of  Henry  Clay's  partisans  that  he  would 
.go  twenty  miles  to  hear  Kentucky's  great  Whig  orator  pro 
nounce  the  name  "Alabama."  Our  family  used  to  have  in 
Henderson  County  a  friend  (Allen  Briskey  by  name — peace 


1 90  Recollections  of  Pioneer  and  Army  Life. 

to  his  ashes!)  who  had  two  distinguishing  characteristics:  he 
was  from  Alabama  and,  as  the  boys  in  the  Army  used  to  say, 
he  "stood  lots  of  rest." 

The  seizure  of  cotton  by  Government  agents  and  by  pri 
vate  parties  began  first  to  attract  my  attention  at  Tuscumbia. 
The  leader  in  this  business  near  our  camp  was  a  Jew.  and  this 
fact  did  not  tend  to  confirm  my  conviction  that  it  was  a 
"square  deal."  The  great  staple  of  commerce  was  moic  to 
be  desired  than  fine  gold.  A  few  bales  surreptitiously  tians- 
ported  within  our  lines  and  cashed  would  place  the  possessor 
on  the  road  to  independence.  A  book  might  be  written  on  "The 
Adventures  of  a  Cotton  Broker  during  the  Civil  War."  A  cer 
tain  well-known  officer  in  our  command  may  have  been  baited, 
or  he  may  have  made  a  study  of  "How  to  Get  Rich  Quick"  in 
the  cotton  business  prior  to  the  summer  of  1862,  but  I  think 
the  beginning  of  his  criminal  connivance  should  be  dated  at 
Tuscumbia.  Here  was  an  opportunity  for  graft,  and  the  career 
of  the  officer  in  question  furnishes  a  striking  example  of  how 
easily  one  may  barter  away  an  honorable  position  in  the  serv 
ice  and  the  respect  of  his  neighbors  at  home  for  money  vir 
tually  stolen,  and  which  betrayed  him  at  last  into  abject  pover 
ty  and  the  forfeiture  of  home  and  friends. 

Little  thought  we  as  we  marched  away  from  Corinth, 
Mississippi,  that  in  a  very  few  brief  months  it  would  be  the 
scene  of  one  of  the  most  fiercely  contested  battles  of  the  Civil 
War.  "Old  Rosey,"  however,  drove  Price  and  Van  Dorn 
away  in  disastrous  rout,  and  after  much  sparring  for  an  open 
ing  between  Generals  Buell  and  Bragg,  the  next  move  on  the 
military  chessboard  resulted  in  a  foot-race  for  Louisville. 
When  the  course  of  events  left  no  doubt  of  this  fact,  the  Gov 
ernment  resolved  not  to  give  up  the  capital  of  Tennessee,  feel 
ing  a  proprietary  interest  in  a  State  which  contained  so  many 
Union  men  like  Andy  Johnson  and  Parson  Brownlow,  and 
which  had  made  so  many  sacrifices  in  life  and  property  in  a 
great  cause.  As  these  two  armies  left  the  South  for  the  Ohio 
River,  our  division,  in  command  of  General  John  M.  Palmer, 


Recollections  of  Pioneer  and  Army  Life.  191 

marched  to  Nashville,  crossing  the  Tennessee  River  at  Athens, 
and  advanced  north  through  Pulaski,  Columbia  and  Franklin. 
We  were  molested  more  or  less  all  the  way  by  guerrillas,  who 
killed  or  captured  our  men  as  occasion  offered.  As  we  left 
our  camp  on  Duck  River,  opposite  Columbia,  the  bushwhackers 
gathered  in  considerable  force  and  some  of  our  men  were 
driven  away  from  the  spring  where  they  were  filling  their 
canteens ;  but,  as  our  column  was  stretched  far  out  on  the  road, 
no  halt  was  made  to  exchange  shots.  This  running  fight  with 
guerrillas  did  not  cease  till  we  had  passed  Franklin. 


CHAPTER  XXXV. 


ISOLATED  AT  NASHVILLE. 

At  Nashville  we  were  isolated  in  the  enemy's  country,, 
having  neither  rations  nor  communication  with  our  military 
leaders  save  by  courier,  which  was  a  dangerous  business  at 
that  time.  The  city  was  full  of  spies  and  other  enemies,  and 
we  were  liable  to  attack  at  any  time  by  independent  forces, 
such  as  Forrest's  cavalry,  or  other  marauders  of  the  guerrilla 
type.  We  prepared  for  this  by  enclosing  the  city  in  a  rude 
breastwork  and  by  a  series  of  fortifications,  of  which  Fort 
Negley  was  the  chief ;  albeit  this  fortification  was  in  a  crude 
state  for  some  months,  but  afterward,  when  completed,  a 
formidable  defense,  armed  with  heavy  artillery  in  bomb-proof 
casements.  Our  regiment  occupied  this  fort  for  some  months. 
Rations  had  to  be  supplied  by  our  wits :  and  a  systematic 
search  of  the  cellars  of  the  city  resulted  in  finding  a  quantity 
of  cured  pork  in  a  condition  bordering  on  putrefaction,  and 
in  a  limited  supply  of  flour  and  corn  meal.  With  this  pork 
and  accessories  we  invited  the  bubonic  plague,  dysentery  and" 
the  malignant  fevers  that  find  a  hospitable  home  in  the  South 
in  the  sultry  season.  As  for  forage,  the  brigade  marched  into 
the  country  in  force  with  a  train  of  empty  Army  wagons,  and 
having  marked  the  plantations  where  the  cribs  were  well  sup 
plied,  outposts  were  stationed  on  all  the  approaches  and  the 
wagons,  loaded,  returning  to  the  city  heavy  laden.  Some  of 
our  men  were  captured  in  small  squads  when  they  ventured1 
out  along  the  turnpikes  in  search  of  something  to  fill  their 
haversacks.  Reports  of  guerrillas  in  force  came  in  almost 
daily,  and  there  were  collisions  of  more  or  less  importance,. 

192 


Recollections  of  Pioneer  and  Army  Life.  193 

and  finally  we  prepared  for  an  attack,  threatened  by  Forrest. 
The  situation  was  considered  serious  enough  to  justify  Gen 
eral  Granger  in  coming  to  the  fort  and  carefully  studying 
through  his  glass  the  movements  of  Forrest  and  his  men  on 
our  front.  The  enemy,  not  finding  what  he  was  looking  for 
(an  opportunity  to  surprise  us),  reconsidered  his  purpose  and 
decamped. 

The  State's  prison  is  in  the  suburb  east  of  the  city.  Here 
the  military  prisoners  were  confined,  including  those  under 
sentence  by  the  general  courts-martial.  One  day  our  brigade 
was  called  out  and  marched  to  the  level  ground  on  the  east 
ern  outskirts  of  the  city.  In  the  column  was  an  Army  wagon 
containing  a  coffin  and  a  prisoner  in  irons  seated  thereon.  On 
reaching  our  destination,  we  "formed  square,"  the  wagon  and 
the  prisoner  at  the  center,  where  was  an  open  grave.  The 
coffin  was  placed  on  the  ground  and  a  guard  conducted  the 
condemned  man  to  his  seat  on  the  coffin  as  before.  He  sat 
facing  the  west.  An  official  of  the  military  court  read  the 
charges  and  specifications  and  the  sentence  of  the  court.  An 
officer  of  the  line  then  stepped  forward  and  blindfolded  the 
prisoner,  and  at  a  silent  signal  another  officer  with  a  file  of 
sharp-shooters  faced  the  prisoner  at  a  distance  of  ten  paces 
and  cocked  their  guns  out  of  his  hearing.  Some  of  the  rifles 
were  loaded  with  ball  and  others  were  not.  In  silence,  at  a 
signal,  the  men  aimed  at  his  heart ;  at  a  signal  they  fired. 
For  an  instant  the  body  sat  upright,  then  fell  over  backward, 
and  the  column  moved  quietly  away  at  the  word.  Not  all  the 
deserters  from  the  service  had  the  good  fortune  to  receive 
clemency  at  the  hands  of  that  most  merciful  of  all  men — 
Abraham  Lincoln.  On  another  occasion  our  regiment  had  a 
painful  duty  to  perform.  A  troop  of  Pennsylvania  cavalry 
had  refused  to  obey  orders.  They  were  picked  men — blue- 
bloods  from  the  old  "Keystone"  State,  who  claimed  to  have 
been  "inveigled"  into  the  service  (poor  credulous  dupes)  as 
the  body-guard  of  General  George  B.  McClellan,  whereas  it 
was  sought  to  put  them  to  baser  uses — to  feel  for  the  enemy 


194  Recollections  of  Pioneer  and  Army  Life. 

if  happily  they  might  find  him,  and  put  him  to  rout.  Here 
v/as  another  rebellion  and  it  was  up  to  Uncle  Sam  to  put  it 
down.  The  general  sent  for  Colonel  Morgan ;  explained  the 
situation  to  him,  and  told  him  to  take  his  regiment  out  to  the 
cavalry  camp  west  of  the  city,  and  bring  those  boys  to  head 
quarters,  boots  and  saddles.  The  next  morning  the  old  Tenth 
halted  in  front  of  the  Pennsylvania  troopers'  camp ;  faced ; 
came  to  "rest,"  and  were  ordered  to  load.  Under  all  circum 
stances  the  colonel  was  a  man  of  few  words  and  full  of  busi 
ness,  and  addressing  the  descendants  of  William  Penn,  said 
to  them :  "You  will  be  given  twenty  minutes  to  mount  and 
fall  into  line  with  this  battalion."  One  of  the  leaders  came  out 
of  his  tent  bareheaded  and  in  his  shirt-sleeves  (a  company 
officer  probably),  armed  with  some  manuscript  flapdoodle,  and 
began  to  pluck  the  tail-feathers  of  the  national  bird  savagely ; 
but  it  was  noticed  that  at  the  expiration  of  about  five  min 
utes  the  majority  of  the  men  were  out  at  the  tethering-rope, 
drawing  cinches  with  the  saddle-girths.  Our  conception  of 
liberty  is  so  broad  within  the  boundaries  of  these  States  that 
we  don't  want  to  mind  anybody  anywhere  at  any  time. 

Andrew  Johnson  was  the  Military  Governor  of  the  State 
and  during  our  occupation  of  the  city  he  had  convened  a  pro 
visional  legislature,  representing  the  loyal  counties  or  all  the 
counties  by  loyal  representatives,  and  the  leaders  who  were 
faithful  to  the  Constitution  and  laws  of  the  Government  were 
familiar  figures  in  the  halls  of  the  Capitol  and  on  the  streets — 
such  men  as  Parson  Brownlow,  Horace  Maynard  and  Judge 
Hawkins.  But  there  was  a  gathering  of  another  sort  from  the 
remote  corners  and  mountain  fastnesses  of  the  State  which 
was  an  object  of  pathetic  interest,  the  refugees  from  Confed 
erate  oppression — the  patriots  of  this  and  other  rebel  States, 
separated  from  their  homes  and  families  by  the  Davis  con 
scription.  Scores  of  these  hunted  men  assembled  at  times, 
apparently  without  shelter,  on  the  outskirts  of  the  city.  Many 
of  them  lost  their  lives  in  east  Tennessee,  and  a  considerable 
number  in  other  parts  of  the  South,  especially  in  Missouri  and 


Recollections  of  Pioneer  and  Army  Life.  195 

Texas.  In  the  latter  State  from  two  to  three  thousand  lives 
were  taken  by  local  vendetta  on  the  plea  that  they  were  not  in 
sympathy  with  the  rebellion.  Those  who  were  fit  for  military 
duty  were  organized  in  one  or  another  branch  of  the  Union 
service  (c%valry  mostly)  and.  in  a  sense,  provided  for  in  that 
way. 

The  women  of  the  capital  city  of  Tennessee  (chiefly  the 
wealthy  class — surcharged  with  the  spirit  of  treason)  had  one 
amusing  method,  among  many,  of  showing  on  which  side  their 
sympathies  lay,  by  coming  out  on  the  veranda  as  the  Union 
soldier  passed  by,  and  calling  their  dog:  "Come,  Beauregard ! 
now,  Beauregard!  will  you  come?" 

The  large  buildings  in  the  city,  such  as  the  medical  school, 
the  seminaries,  the  factory  buildings,  were  taken  by  the  Gov 
ernment  for  hospitals  and  they  were  constantly  full  to  reple 
tion.  At  the  convalescent  hospital,  on  a  Sunday  afternoon, 
in  the  large  hallway,  there  was  usually  an  improvised  semi- 
religious  service  or  "talk."  The  leader,  often  a  distinguished 
visitor  of  the  Sanitary  Commission,  like  Lydia  Maria  Child, 
of  .Philadelphia,  her  hair  snowy  white,  the  sweet  motherly  face 
of  fine  intelligence,  set  off  by  the  Quaker  cap  of  lace.  The 
halt,  lame  and  blind,  or  nearly  so,  from  the  great  battle-fields, 
gathered  eagerly  around  her  while  she  gave  out  in  simple 
words  those  truths  which  we  need  to  have  repeated  to  us  every 
day,  and  which  are  as  old  as  the  race. 

After  the  battle  of  Perry ville,  General  William  S.  Rose- 
crans  succeeded  to  the  command  of  the  newly  organized  Army 
of  the  Cumberland.  My  first  glimpse  of  him  was  over  in  Mis 
sissippi  near  Corinth.  We  were  in  column  on  the  march  when 
he  dashed  by  us  alone,  a  stout-built  soldier  in  fatigue  dress 
and  cavalry  boots.  The  army  was  reviewed  by  him  on  the 
outskirts  of  Nashville  near  the  close  of  the  year  1862.  He 
appeared  to  advantage,  and  scanned  the  troops  closely  for  de 
ficiencies  of  every  kind  more  thoroughly,  I  believe,  than  I  had 
ever  seen  it  done.  He  had  many  of  the  traits  of  a  popular 
commander,  and  some  of  his  noblest  qualifications.  He  nar- 


196  Recollections  of  Pioneer  and  Army  Life. 

rowly  missed  being  the  idol  of  the  North  during  the  Civil  War. 
"Old  Rosey"  was  once  a  name  to  conjure  with,  and  his  men 
saw  him  go  away  after  Chickamauga  with  a  pang.  I  saw  him 
in  Nashville  on  his  way  North  from  Chattanooga.  Laura 
Keene  was  in  town,  playing  leading  roles  at  th%  principal 
theater — the  same  actress  who  appeared  in  "Our  American 
Cousin"  the  night  Lincoln  was  assassinated.  Rosecrans  and 
his  staff  occupied  a  private  box  one  evening  and  the  actress, 
during  a  pause  in  the  play,  in  response  to  applause  from  the 
general  and  his  companions,  turned  full  upon  him  and  court- 
esied  in  acknowledgment.  As  he  passed  out  at  the  close  of 
the  performance  the  soldiers  present  gave  him  an  ovation, 
and  we  all  shook  hands  with  him.  It  was  the  passing  of 
"Old  Rosey." 

While  in  camp  on  Stone  River,  we  strengthened  our  love 
for  the  Union  by  marching  over  to  "The  Hermitage"  and  wor 
shiping  at  the  shrine  of  "Old  Hickory."  We  stacked  arms 
in  the  avenue  of  cedars  and  were  received  by  General  Jack 
son's  foster-son,  Andrew  Jackson  Donelson,  then  a  man  well 
advanced  in  life.  The  room  in  which  the  old  defender  of  the 
Union  died,  and  his  tomb,  were  the  principal  objects  of  inter 
est.  As  we  walked  along  the  paths  familiar  to  the  hero  of  the 
battle  of  New  Orleans,  we  could  hear  the  distant  guns  of  an 
army  assembled  with  the  sworn  purpose  to  destroy  all  that 
"Old  Hickory"  held  most  dear,  and  we  came  away  convinced 
that  his  bones  were  resting  uneasily  in  the  grave  where  his 
countrymen  had  laid  him. 


CHAPTER  XXXVI. 


BRIDGEPORT  TO  CHATTANOOGA. 

On  our  march  to  Bridgeport,  on  the  Tennessee  River,  we 
were  held  for  a  day  or  two  in  our  camp  at  Columbia.  Dur 
ing  the  delay,  along  with  Sergeant  Simpson,  I  called  at  the 
"Athenaeum" — a  seminary  for  young  ladies,  equipped  with  a 
fine  library  and  a  number  of  musical  instruments.  It  was  the 
summer  vacation,  but  the  principal  was  in  charge,  and  a  num 
ber  of  students  were  in  attendance — taking  lessons  in  music 
possibly.  Our  reception,  while  not  lacking  in  the  amenities, 
was  a  little  on  the  bias,  as  a  call  from  the  "blue-coats"  evident 
ly  had  not  been  anticipated.  However,  she  was  a  lady  of 
mature  years,  intelligent,  and  we  soon  became  interested  in  a 
line  of  conversation  that  presented  some  difficulties.  The 
principal  having  cleared  the  ground  and  stretched  the  rope, 
as  it  were,  we  were  given  an  opportunity  to  explain  our  mis 
sion  to  the  South.  While  Charlie  was  making  the  pass  pre 
liminary,  I  was  looking  over  my  mental  wares  to  see  if  I  could 
find  a  reason  for  having  been  discovered  by  this  lady  south  of 
Mason  and  Dixon's  line  with  a  gun  in  my  hand.  My  comrade 
was  a  "Union  Democrat,"  and  scorned  the  thought  of  fight 
ing  to  free  the  "nigger."  Whether  I  was  an  Abolitionist  or 
not,  I  thought  I  was,  and  I  said  to  her  in  effect  that  slavery 
was  a  subsidiary  thing,  to  be  gotten  rid  of,  as  Washington  and 
Jefferson  had  shown  us  by  personal  example;  but  I  ran  the 
knife  to  the  bone  by  adding  that  the  black  man  had  a  right  to 
the  bread  which  his  toil  had  won ;  that  I  was  in  the  South  to 
help  him  to  win  out ;  that  if  we  succeeded,  the  South  having 
never  gotten  out  of  the  Union,  would  be  in  it,  and  we  could 
and  would  continue  to  do  business  at  the  old  stand,  having  no 


198  Recollections  of  Pioneer  and  Army  Life. 

bone  of  contention  to  wrangle  over  as  before.  Charlie  fared 
no  better  in  the  old  lady's  graces  than  I  did ;  in  truth,  she  smiled 
on  us  as  though  we  were  a  brace  of  young  lunatics.  While 
on  this  march  the  troops  were  called  into  line  one  morning, 
and  to  our  surprise  there  came  on  a  quick-step  down  our  front 
the  snare-drums  and  the  shrill  notes  of  the  fife,  playing  "The 
Rogue's  March,"  the  rogue  himself  following,  and  a  file  of 
bayonets  in  close  touch  bringing  up  the  rear.  The  culprit  was 
exhibited  before  a  long  line  of  troops,  his  buttons  cut  off,  and 
at  the  end  he  was  drummed  out  of  camp.  What  his  offense 
was  we  were  not  informed.  From  Bridgeport  our  regiment 
escorted  an  immense  train  of  ammunition  along  the  Sequatchie 
valley  and  over  a  spur  of  the  Cumberland  Mountains  to  the 
army  at  Chattanooga.  Two  miles  out  from  the  foot  of  Wal- 
dron's  Ridge  we  came  upon  the  remains  of  a  similar  train  that 
had  preceded  us,  which  contained  withal  some  sutlers'  wagons 
loaded  with  miscellaneous  confectionery,  tobacco,  whiskey  no 
doubt,  canned  goods,  etc.,  which  had  been  destroyed  by  Wheel 
er's  cavalry.  The  road  for  the  whole  of  that  distance  was 
filled  with  the  large,  fine  mules,  shot  in  their  tracks,  and  the 
ashes  of  the  burned  wagons,  and  along  the  road-side,  under 
the  bushes,  cans  of  cove  oysters  and  other  edibles  were  found 
where  they  had  been  left  by  the  rebel  cavalry,  too  heavily  laden 
with  the  spoils  to  carry  everything  off.  One  dead  rebel  lying 
in  the  mud  was  the  only  visible  regret  Wheeler  had  left  be 
hind  him.  Looking  east  from  the  crest  of  Waldron's  Ridge, 
over  the  valley  in  which  Chattanooga  is  situated,  the  eye  rests 
on  a  natural  amphitheater  of  majestic  proportions.  The  Ten 
nessee  River  flows  through  the  foreground,  the  city  at  the 
north  end  of  the  valley,  the  immemorial  summits  of  Lookout 
and  Mission  Ridge,  covered  with  forests  framing  in  the  scene, 
with  the  woods  that  hide  Rossville  and  Chickamauga  for  a 
background.  The  National  Cemetery  is  a  feature  new  to  this 
valley.  Historic  ground!  From  the  top  of  this  ridge  (a  moun 
tain  range  in  itself)  the  road  descends  like  a  cork-screw.  Here 
at  the  edge  of  the  precipitous  mountain  wall,  in  the  shade  of 


Recollections  of  Pioneer  and  Army  Life.  199 

the  trees,  we  stand  absorbed,  thinking  of  all  the  tragedies  that 
have  taken  place  here  within  the  sweep  of  one's  vision.  Can 
one  name  a  spot  on  the  round  globe  so  fit  for  the  circumstance 
and  pomp  of  war?  A  painful  scene  this;  as  our  train  wound 
slowly  along  this  valley,  which  had  been  so  often  crossed  and 
recrossed  by  armed  men  and  by  the  starving  animals  of  the 
beaten  Union  host.  The  earth  was  trodden  bare  for  miles,  so 
that  not  a  blade  of  grass  was  left,  and  the  bushes  withal  had 
been  eaten  up,  and  the  limbs  of  the  trees.  Somewhere  on  the 
high  tablelands  we  met  the  slightly  wounded  from  Chicka- 
mauga,  footing  it  back  to  Bridgeport  to  take  the  train  for  the 
general  hospitals  at  Nashville,  or  for  home  on  a  short  furlough. 
I  remember  seeing  Sam  P.  McGaw,  of  Henderson  County,  in 
the  crowd. 

We  had  a  rude  awakening  at  Bridgeport  which  will  be 
easily  borne  in  the  memory  of  the  last  survivor  of  our  brigade. 
The  reserve  ammunition  of  the  Army  of  the  Cumberland  was 
kept  at  this  place.  Through  the  lack  of  proper  storage  it  was 
placed  on  high  ground,  adjoining  our  camp,  in  pyramidal  form, 
covered  with  a  tarpaulin.  In  this  pile  of  explosives  were  mil 
lions  of  cartridges  in  cases,  "spherical  case,"  and  grape,  and 
shrapnel,  in  unlimited  quantity.  A  guard,  in  reliefs,  stood 
over  it  night  and  day.  Nero,  possibly,  in  taking  up  his  fiddle, 
threw  the  stump  of  a  cigar  into  a  pile  of  shavings,  which  set 
Rome  afire?  A  wisp  of  fire  the  size  of  your  little  finger 
started  the  conflagration  that  wrapped  the  city  of  London  in 
all-embracing  flame.  Mrs.  O'Leary's  cow  kicked  the  lamp 
over  which  started  one  or  two  little  straws  burning,  and  they 
started  other  straws,  till  Deacon  Bross,  fleeing  along  the  streets 
of  the  lurid  city,  looked  back  and  saw  the  public  buildings 
aflame  "with  a  sublimity  of  effect  that  astounded  me" !  No 
one  knows.  Dead  guards  tell  no  tales.  They  were  careless, 
and  smoked  their  pipes  in  unconcern  on  this  mountain  of  gun 
powder.  Tt  does  not  seem  possible  that  a  grain  of  powder 
could  have  been  exposed  among  those  sealed  packages  and 


2OO  Recollections  of  Pioneer  and  Army  Life. 

water-proof  percussion  shells.  I  know,  not,  nor  does  any  other 
man  know.  Did  a  blundering  guard  let  fall  one  of  those 
weighty  shells  on  the  dangerous  cap  of  another?  All  the  an 
swer  we  have  is  the  thunderbolt  that  tore  the  bodies  of  some 
of  those  guards  to  atoms ;  bits  of  whose  flesh  were  picked  up 
in  the  weeds  a  hundred  yards  away.  Then  those  shells  opened 
on  our  camp  like  a  battery,  and  men  hunted  shelter  in  every 
direction.  The  body  of  John  Owens,  of  Henderson  County, 
was  burned  to  a  crisp;  every  shred  of  clothing  burned  from 
the  body,  the  hair  from  his  head;  the  eyes  sealed  with  fire. 
He  still  breathed  when  brought  to  the  surgeon's  tent,  and  soon 
died. 


CHAPTER  XXXVIII. 


GOOD-BYE,  BRAXTON  BRAGG. 

During  the  crucial  days  when  General  Grant  assumed 
command  of  the  beleaguered  army  in  Chattanooga  and  General 
Sherman  and  the  Army  of  the  Tennessee  were  being  trans 
ferred  from  Vicksburg  to  our  front,  our  division,  under  the 
command  of  General  Jeff  C.  Davis  (the  same  who  shot  Gen 
eral  Nelson  in  the  Gait  House  at  Louisville),  was  distributed 
along  the  fords  of  the  Tennessee  above  the  city;  our  own 
company  (E)  being  stationed  at  Penny's  Ford.  We  were  di 
rectly  opposite  the  extreme  right  of  Bragg's  army  on  Mis 
sion  Ridge.  Across  the  river,  on  our  immediate  front,  were 
the  rebel  cavalry  videttes  with  infantry  supports  en  echelon 
behind  barricades.  This  was  our  situation  at  the  opening  of 
the  battle  of  Mission  Ridge.  Our  division  was  a  part  of  the 
Army  of  the  Cumberland,  under  General  Thomas,  which  oc 
cupied  the  center  some  miles  away  from  us  in  the  Chatta 
nooga  valley.  Our  orders  wrere,  therefore,  to  co-operate  with 
General  Sherman's  Army  of  the  Tennessee,  which  came  onto 
the  ground  we  occupied,  but  remained  screened  from  obser 
vation  in  the  woods  back  from  the  river.  General  Jeff 
Davis  (our  Jeff)  was  a  West  Pointer  and  a  lieutenant  under 
General  Robert  Anderson  when  Fort  Sumter  fell;  after 
that  event  he  was  advanced  in  grade  along  with  most  or 
all  of  the  West  Point  men,  and  transferred  to  the  West, 
and  was  in  command  of  a  brigade  in  Buell's  army  at  Louis 
ville  when  the  personal  encounter  took  place  which  resulted 
in  the  death  of  General  Nelson.  He  was  a  stocky  little 
man,  was  Davis,  and  would  recoil,  one  would  suppose,  from 
a  passage  at  arms  with  a  powerful  man  like  Nelson,  whose 


2O2  Recollections  of  Pioneer  and  Army  Life. 

courage  nothing  could  daunt.  Not  so !  Nelson's  brutality 
ventured  once  too  often !  Alas,  that  it  was  so !  for  he  was  a 
soldier  whom  Napoleon  would  have  chosen  for  his  most  des 
perate  enterprises.  Poor  old  Braxton  Bragg!  Who  could 
stand  against  such  a  combination  as  this :  Hooker  at  Lookout 
Mountain ;  Grant,  Thomas,  and  Sheridan  at  the  center,  and 
Sherman  on  the  left.  No  soldier  nor  combination  of  soldiers 
since  the  world  began !  In  the  great  crises  of  the  future  may 
the  honor  of  our  country  find  defenders  in  sons  like  these ! 
Any  one  of  them  (barring  only  one)  the  equal  of  any  soldier 
our  race  has  ever  known.  Hooker,  in  line  with  his  best  days, 
had  taken  Lookout,  and  his  camp-fires  from  base  to  summit 
flickered  in  the  darkness  like  signal  lights,  beckoning  the 
avenging  forces  of  the  Union  on.  The  armed  hosts  for  miles 
around  (friend  and  foe)  took  note;  and  as  we  looked  at  the 
moon,  rising  above  the  hood  of  the  mountain,  the  fugitive 
figures  of  Bragg's  defeated  left  wing  passed  across  the  lunar 
disk.  In  the  night  hours  the  small  boats,  packed  with  armed 
men,  crept  along  in  the  shadows  of  the  willows  on  the  shore 
of  the  Tennessee  River  on  Sherman's  front.  Captain  Ewing, 
of  the  36th  Illinois,  had  command  of  one  of  these  boats.  They 
landed  silently  on  the  enemy's  side  of  the  river  unseen,  and 
stole  noiselessly  upon  the  chain  of  rebel  barricades,  and  pointed 
their  guns  down  into  the  faces  of  the  enemy's  outposts  taken 
unawares !  The  Federals  were  busy.  A  strong  force  quickly 
deployed  and  covered  the  ground,  protecting  the  men  laying 
the  pontoons.  The  cavalry,  infantry,  artillery,  and  the  ambu 
lance  and  ammunition  trains  passed  over  in  rapid  succession. 
Tom  Ewing  was  ordered  to  advance  his  division  "upon  Bragg's 
right  and  "not  to  call  for  help  unless  he  needed  it."  Jeff  C. 
Davis'  division  was  massed  in  reserve.  A  Federal  battery  of 
siege  guns  (rifled  Parrotts),  planted  on  a  promontory  on  the 
west  side  of  the  river,  kept  up  a  continuous  fire  over  our  heads 
at  the  rebel  trenches.  During  the  progress  of  the  battle  on  our 
front  we  could  see  the  steady  stream  of  rebel  reinforcements 
toward  us  from  Bragg's  center,  following  the  crest  of  the 


Recollections  of  Pioneer  and  Army  Life.  203 

ridge,  their  polished  arms  glistening  in  the  sunlight.  The  en 
emy  had  the  advantage  of  us  in  his  superior  view  of  all  parts 
of  the  field.  Sheridan's  charge  on  the  center  of  his  defenses 
was  noticeable  to  us  by  the  musketry  fire  only,  as  we  could 
not  see  the  movement. 

General  John  M.  Corse,  later  the  hero  of  Altoona  Pass 
and  son  of  the  old-time  bookseller  at  Burlington,  Iowa,  was 
on  the  fighting-line  in  our  front,  and  was  borne  back  wounded 
to  the  field  hospital,  on  a  stretcher.  He  was  boisterous  and 
blasphemous,  declaring  his  ability  to  lick  the  Confederacy,  with 
other  manifestations  of  lunacy.  The  surgeons  gathered  around 
him,  and  among  them  our  division  surgeon,  Henry  R.  Payne, 
whom  1  quote :  "-We  removed  the  general's  clothing  tenderly, 
expecting  to  find  (as  there  was  no  blood)  a  severe  contusion. 
On  opening  the  underclothing  at  the  knee  with  a  knife,  the 
disabled  limb  was  exposed,  and  looking  it  over  minutely,  we 
found  a  little  blue  spot  where  a  spent  ball  had  struck  him !" 
On  learning  that  some  prisoners  from  South  Carolina  had  been 
taken  on  our  front,  I  went  over  to  where  they  were  held,  and 
found  among  them  some  men  from  my  mother's  native  parish, 
who  told  me  of  a  Giles  relative  who  had  received  a  mortal 
wound  during  the  day. 

After  Bragg's  center  had  been  broken  and  his  army  had 
taken  the  roads  south  in  retreat,  our  division  crossed  Chicka- 
mauga  Creek  in  pursuit.  We  came  up  with  their  rear  guard 
at  Chickamauga  Station,  where  they  had  a  field  hospital.  Here 
we  were  confronted  by  a  strong  earthwork  on  a  salient  of 
the  bluff.  The  Confederate  officers  stood  on  the  parapet  ob 
serving  us  form  our  line  below.  To  charge  these  hills  we 
had  to  make  our  way  over  fallen  timber,  much  of  it  of  the 
largest  size,  felled  to  make  almost  a  perfect  defense  against 
the  attacking  force.  The  trunks  of  some  of  the  trees  were  so 
large  that  while  we  could  not  force  our  way  under  them  for 
the  mass  of  tangled  limbs,  they  were  so  thick  through  that  it 
was  all  we  could  do  to  climb  over  them.  As  we  advanced  we 
finally  got  away  from  this  obstruction,  and  went  to  the  top  of 


204  Recollections  of  Pioneer  and  Army  Life. 

the  ridge  on  the  double  quick  in  the  face  of  a  sharp  cross 
fire  of  musketry.  We  got  possession  of  the  range  of  hills 
without  difficulty,  and  advancing  through  the  open  woods 
across  the  high  tableland,  discovered  the  enemy's  rear  guard 
(a  division  of  troops)  in  full  retreat  across  a  field  in  the  next 
valley.  They  disappeared  from  view  in  the  dense  woods  on 
the  further  side  of  this  opening.  Here  they  were  screened 
from  our  sight,  and  I  thought  we  would  be  severely  punished 
as  we  came  within  range  with  a  close  line  of  battle.  I  could 
distinctly  hear  their  teamsters  cursing  their  animals  in  their 
efforts  to  get  their  trains  out  of  our  range.  We  were  halted 
here.  When  we  did  advance,  after  some  delay,  the  enemy 
had  taken  a  strong  position,  where  severe  fighting  was  going 
on  when  night  fell  and  we  withdrew  to  our  camp-fires.  This 
was  the  last  we  saw  of  Braxton  Bragg.  When  we  grappled 
again  with  this  reorganized  rebel  army,  it  was  under  the  able 
leadership  of  General  Joe  Johnston. 


CHAPTER  XXXIX. 


RELIEF  of  KNOXVILLE. 

Longstreet  had  withdrawn  from  Mission  Ridge  before  the 
battle  and  united  his  strength  to  the  rebel  investment  of  our 
fortifications  at  Knoxville,  defended  by  Burnside.  Under  the 
impression  that  the  Union  army  there  might  suffer  defeat, 
our  division  and  Gordon  Granger's  were  sent  by  forced 
marches  to  raise  the  siege  at  that  point.  Our  route  lay  along 
some  of  those  fertile  valleys  in  east  Tennessee,  celebrated 
when  I  was  a  boy  for  their  crops  of  red  winter  wheat,  highly 
prized  on  the  Atlantic  sea-board  when  converted  into  superior 
flour  for  domestic  use  and  for  export.  I  was  kindly  re 
ceived  at  a  cabin  on  the  roadside,  one  evening  after  we  had 
got  into  camp,  by  an  octogenarian,  who  had  served  under 
Jackson  and  who  was  greatly  surprised  and  pleased  to  find  the 
Stars  and  Stripes  so  unexpectedly  near  his  house.  The  women 
of  that  household  baked  for  me  some  biscuits — incomparable 
biscuit,  no  doubt,  for  never  before  nor  afterwards  during  the 
service  was  I  blessed  with  the  good  fortune  of  wheaten  biscuit, 
for  "co'n-bread"  was  the  staple  article  of  diet  in  Dixie  at 
that  time.  Perfect  little  gems  (those  biscuit),  baked  by  the 
fire-place  of  our  forebears,  in  the  same  little  oven,  with  the 
hot  coals  underneath  and  on  the  lid. 

One  day  later  on  I  went  into  a  farm-house,  at  the  close 
of  a  long  march,  and  found  a  group  of  soldiers  who  had  pre 
ceded  me  being  entertained  by  an  intelligent  young  lady  of 
the  household.  She  seemed  in  good  humor  with  her  self- 
invited  callers,  but  as  I  took  a  seat  (with  due  deference  I  am 
sure)  she  turned  to  me  and  said,  "Do  you  think  you  can 
conquer  the  South?"  I  was  taken  aback  by  this  unlooked- 

205 


206  Recollections  of  Pioneer  and  Army  Life. 

for  sally,  but  1  could  not  take  water;  so  I  gathered  my  wits 
and  replied:  "We  are  here  and  it  is  General  Eragg's  busi 
ness  to  put  us  out."  I  must  say  here,  once  for  all,  that  not 
withstanding  all  that  had  happened,  and  was  happening,  and 
in  the  nature  of  things  would  happen,  1  took  no  pleasure  in 
the  ghastly  wounds  the  South  was  inflicting  upon  herself, 
through  that  pride  which  goes  before  a  fall.  The  young  lady, 
contrary  to  my  expectations,  ceased  to  press  her  inquiries. 
Full  sorrowful  was  she,  I  fancied.  Had  her  lover  been  slain 
in  battle,  in  the  forlorn  hope  of  trying  to  make  good  a  lost 
cause  ? 

One  morning,  as  the  column  left  camp,  weary  of  the 
interminable  marches,  I  chose  my  comrade,  John  Clover,  for 
a  companion,  and  followed  the  crest  of  a  chain  of  hills  par 
allel  to  the  road.  This  move  of  mine  was  not  good  military 
form  in  the  enemies'  country,  but  I  seldom  left  the  column, 
and  to  relieve  the  wearisome  monotony,  I  chose  to  come  in 
contact  with  the  people  of  the  country  at  their  homes,  and 
exchange  a  little  of  our  small  store  of  coffee,  which  the  fam 
ilies  on  the  plantations  had  long  been  deprived  of  and  would 
be  glad  to  barter  for.  In  this  way  we  could  get  a  change  of 
ration. 

I  am  aware  that  I  am  drawing  upon  the  credulity  of  my 
readers  in  the  suggestion  I  have  made;  for  it  seems  to  run 
counter  to  the  observation  and  experience  of  all  who  have 
ever  come  in  contact  with  a  hungry  soldier,  campaigning  in 
another  quarter  of  the  globe  than  his  own — a  sort  of  shock 
to  most  people  to  intimate  that  even  in  remote  instances  the 
soldier  will  depart  from  his  own  peculiar  method  of  securing 
something  good  to  eat,  and  deliberately  engage  in  equitable 
traffic  to  secure  it.  Well,  there  were  some  poor  white  trash  in 
east  Tennessee,  and  we  came  upon  a  lonely  cabin  occupied 
by  a  cheerful  old  lady,  who,  so  far  as  we  could  see  on  a  cursory 
view,  was  full  as  short  on  subsistence  as  in  everything  else. 
When  all  other  visible  means  of  support  failed,  those  people 
had  one  never-failing  resource — they  could  chew  snuff;  and 


Recollections  of  Pioneer  and  Army  Life.  207 

this  poor  thing  had  the  snuff-stick  in  her  mouth,  emphatically 
indifferent  to  Bob  Toomb's  success  in  calling  the  roll  of  his 
slaves  on  Bunker  Hill.  I  challenged  Fate  by  donating  some 
of  my  coffee  on  the  spot,  and  the  joy  with  which  it  was  re 
ceived  well  repaid  me  for  the  slight  sacrifice. 

The  ever-changing  landscape,  as  seen  from  the  high  coun 
try  along  which  we  were  making  our  way,  was  at  intervals 
very  interesting,  and  we  kept  our  bearings  by  catching  a 
glimpse  now  and  again,  off  in  the  valley,  of  the  column  wind 
ing  its  anaconda  way  toward  Knoxville.  As  we  strode  warily 
along  I  amused  myself  at  times  revolving  on  the  ease  with 
which  we  might  bring  a  marked  change  in  our  fortunes  by 
taking  a  course  a  mile  or  so  further  southward  and  being  run 
off  to  Libby  or  Andersonville  by  the  enemy's  scouts.  In  going 
from  one  plantation  to  another,  along  a  zig-zag  course,  we 
traveled  twice  the  distance  the  column  made  in  the  day,  and 
were  thoroughly  tired  and  hungry  at  the  noon  hour  when  we 
entered  a  well-to-do  planter's  door  and  suggested  in  circum 
locutory  fashion  that  refreshments  would  be  acceptable.  This 
being  in  line  with  the  daily  procedure,  we  were  not  disap 
pointed.  The  planter  was  a  substantial,  well-fed  person,  and 
he  had  "backing"  in  a  young  man  of  brawn  whom  I  took  to  be 
a  son-in-law,  but  that  was  only  a  guess.  It  was  two  and  two 
anyway,  and  we  looked  well  to  our  "Enfields."  However, 
after  looking  the  situation  over,  I  made  up  my  mind  that  these 
men  were  disposed  to  be  hospitable,  but  did  not  confess  as 
much  for  fear  that  in  some  way  the  fact  would  leak  out,  and 
there  would  be  trouble,  either  with  their  neighbors  or  with 
Jeff  Davis'  conscription  officers.  The  fact  that  here  were  two 
able-bodied  men  at  home  satisfied  me  that  they  were  friends 
at  heart.  We  were  invited  to  seats  at  the  dinner-table — a 
wide  board,  but  there  was  little  on  it.  The  plantation  had 
responded  so  often  to  the  raids  of  the  Confederate  commis 
sariat  that  private  hospitality  was  scudding  under  bare  poles. 
The  place  had  been  stripped  of  animals  and  fowls.  There  were 
only  two  plow-horses  left ;  and  when  we  applied  for  transpor- 


2o8  Recollections  of  Pioneer  and  Army  Life. 

tation  with  which  to  overtake  the  column,  the  planter  responded 
with  better  grace  than  I  anticipated.  I  assured  him  that  if  he 
would  send  his  man  along,  that  when  we  came  in  sight  of  the 
rear  guard  we  would  dismount  and  his  horses  would  be  re 
stored  intact.  This  agreement  was  faithfully  carried  out, 
and  John  returned  to  camp  triumphant,  with  a  nice  ham  hang 
ing  on  the  point  of  his  bayonet. 

At  a  day's  march  out  from  Knoxville  we  were  advised 
by  courier  that  Longstreet  had  delivered  his  charge  on  the 
Federal  defenses  and  met  with  a  bloody  repulse,  and  was  re 
treating  toward  Richmond,  and  thus  ended  our  expedition  for 
the  relief  of  Burnside.  Here  we  fully  realized  that  the  people 
of  east  Tennessee  were  steadfast  and  true  to  the  Government 
founded  by  our  fathers.  The  able-bodied  men  were  in  the 
Federal  Army,  and  the  women  (young  misses,  sixteen  to 
twenty)  came  to  the  column  on  the  road,  waving  the  Stars 
and  Stripes,  and  bade  us  God-speed. 

We  were  now  near  the  close  of  1863,  and  about  to  take 
up  the  drudgery  of  the  return  march  to  Rossville.  We  had 
not  met  with  the  quartermaster  for  some  months  and  the 
men's  shoes  were  worn  out.  I  don't  know  why  his  case  should 
stick  in  my  memory,  for  many  were  getting  back  to  winter 
quarters  with  their  feet  wrapped  in  rags ;  but  Captain  Sam 
Wilson  was  making  great  personal  sacrifices  for  his  country 
— that  was  plain.  In  an  unfortunate  moment  he  had  chosen 
to  penetrate  the  Confederacy  in  a  pair  of  boots,  rather  than 
in  a  pair  of  Uncle  Sam's  uncompromising,  broad-soled,  easy 
marching  shoes.  His  martyrdom  was  painful  to  behold.  Be 
fore  we  had  fairly  shook  Braxton  Bragg  for  a  neighbor  the 
captain's  boots  had  begun  to  weaken  under  the  stress  of  the 
stony  mountain  roads,  and  on  our  approach  to  Knoxville  the 
heels  of  his  foot-gear  had  reversed  arms.  With  a  rusty  cape 
on  his  shoulders,  a  slouch  hat,  his  trousers  stuffed  into  those 
boot-legs,  the  afflicted  veteran  limped  along  like  a  disconsolate 
"Arkansaw  traveler"  on  the  home  stretch. 


Recollections  of  Pioneer  and  Army  Life.  209 

I  am  in  deep  sympathy  this  moment  with  my  patient 
reader.  He  was  wholly  justified  in  his  expectation  that  these 
pages  would  be  filled  with  a  blood-curdling  narrative  of  war. 
I  am  mortified  beyond  words  that  I  cannot  disembowel  a  hun 
dred  of  the  enemy  on  every  page,  or  hold  up  my  dripping 
sword  on  filling  a  number  of  chapters  with  the  slain  of  my 
own  valiant  arm.  A  word  about  this :  Our  destined  end  and 
way  depends  upon  the  star  under  which  we  were  born.  The  old 
3d  Brig.,  4th  Div.,  I4th  A.  C.,  under  Gen.  James  D.  Morgan, 
possessed  a  peculiar  hypnotic  power — the  power  of  dispersion. 
When  we  suddenly  confronted  the  rebel  fortifications  at  New 
Madrid  and  my  company  took  position  on  the  outposts,  that 
was  a  bluff.  And  the  foe  did  not  stop  long  enough  to  blow 
out  his  lights,  nor  to  eat  a  hasty,  early  breakfast.  When  he 
found  the  old  loth  and  i6th  Illinois  across  his  path  of  escape 
from  "Island  No.  10,"  he  acknowledged  the  corn,  came  in,  and 
stacked  his  guns.  Beauregard  kept  his  nerve  from  Shiloh  to 
Corinth,  till  Morgan  closed  up  against  his  works.  That  fixed 
him.  He  promptly  exploded  his  magazines  and  left  for  a 
sunnier  South. 

When  we  got  to  Bridgeport  the  Fates  went  against  us 
(but  for  a  few  minutes  only)  and  turned  our  own  shells  against 
us — a  striking  instance  indeed  where,  gallant  men  not  being 
able  to  bring  the  enemy  to  bay,  adverse  fortune  evened  up  the 
score  by  involving  them  in  a  fight  with  themselves.  At  Mis 
sion  Ridge  and  Chicakamauga  Station  the  old  prenatal  influ 
ence  returned  and  Bragg  virtually  refused  to  make  our  ac 
quaintance.  And  here  we  are,  within  striking  distance  of 
Knoxville;  and  we  waved  our  magic  wand  and  Longstreet  at 
once  bestirred  himself  to  get  back  into  Virginia.  Fortunate 
man !  Morgan's  brigade  was  instructed  at  the  outset  to  "make 
war  gaily"  and  we  continued  to  do  so  "all  summer,"  and  every 
summer,  till  Jeff  Davis,  tired  of  his  job,  disappeared  in  a 
petticoat. 


2io  Recollections  of  Pioneer  and  Army  Life. 

And  so  now  we  have  nothing  to  do  this  moment  but  to 
take  up  the  long  march  in  the  hot  sun  and  stifling  dust  and 
stride  on,  unmoved,  when  men  oppressed  by  the  heat,  the 
burden  of  arms,  and  the  choking  thirst,  throw  away  their 
blankets  with  an  oath  and  awake  in  the  chill  and  heavy  dew 
of  the  Southern  night  suffering  for  the  want  of  those  blankets. 
Whosoever  thou  art,  O  youth  of  this  dear  native  land  of  ours, 
who  shall  bear  this  flag  in  other  days  on  other  fields — know 
thou  that  not  to  every  man  is  it  given  to  bear  wounds  or  suf 
fer  death  on  the  field  of  honor.  At  the  supreme  moment, 
when  duty  calls,  we  in  vain  protest;  for  shall  the  thing  made 
say  to  Him  who  made  it,  "What  doest  thou?" 


CHAPTER  XL. 


ON  VETERAN  FURLOUGH. 

At  Rossville  we  received  the  proposition  to  re-enlist  as 
veterans  of  the  service ;  to  receive  our  regular  pay,  a  bounty 
of  four  hundred  dollars  to  be  paid  in  advance,  thirty  days' 
furlough  and  free  transportation  to  and  from  the  place  of 
enlistment — Quincy,  Illinois.  We  completed  our  muster-rolls 
and  were  sworn  in  and  paid  on  these  terms.  Each  of  our 
men  had  a  comfortable  roll  of  greenbacks,  but  some  of  them, 
being  incorrigible  gamblers,  had  lost  all  their  money  at  "chuck- 
a-luck"  before  leaving  camp  and  boarded  the  train  at  Chatta 
nooga  bankrupt.  We  made  the  round  trip  in  freight  cars,  and 
other  notable  rides  we  had  in  like  fashion,  during  and  at  the 
close  of  the  war. 

The  self-denying  work  of  the  loyal  women  of  the  North 
through  the  Sanitary  Commission  and  other  agencies  were  a 
part  of  the  amazing  energies  of  the  Civil  War.  We  came 
within  the  scope  of  this  influence  on  our  arrival  at  Quincy. 
We  had  hardly  stacked  arms  before  we  were  ushered  into 
the  banqueting-hall.  The  soldier  could  hardly  get  around 
without  breaking  his  neck,  stumbling  over  things  provided  for 
the  inner  man,  and  the  attention  and  service  of  these  ladies 
did  not  stop  here,  but  they  were  at  the  beck  and  nod  of  every 
volunteer,  sick  or  worn  out.  I  am  sure  our  reception,  how 
ever,  would  have  had  fewer  qualms  could  we  have  dodged 
from  the  cattle-cars  into  the  bath-room  before  being  discovered 
by  the  fair  daughters  of  the  Gem  City.  Passing  through  the  old 
"Sucker"  State — from  the  sliding  doors  of  the  box-cars  we 
cheered  everybody  and  were  cheered  by  everybody  in  return. 
As  our  train  passed  through  a  small,  coal-mining  hamlet  on 
211 


212  Recollections  of  Pioneer  and  Army  Life. 

the  Quincy  branch  of  the  "Q"  a  buxom  young  Irish  mother 
came  to  her  door  with  her  babe  in  her  arms  in  response  to 
our  cheers  and  the  swinging  of  our  hats  from  the  car  windows 
(we  exchanged  freight  for  passenger  cars  at  Quincy),  and 
began  saluting  us  by  lustily  swinging  her  disengaged  arm,  and 
when  that  tired,  she  would  bounce  the  baby  over  onto  the 
other  arm  dexterously  and  swing  the  free  arm  as  before,  the 
baby  smiling  and  enjoying  the  fun  as  much  as  the  mother. 
As  we  passed  out  of  sight  that  baby  was  making  lightning 
changes  from  right  to  left  and  back  again  with  the  good,  humor 
and  abandon  the  Irish  race  throw  into  every  cause  which  they 
have  at  heart. 

On  our  way  North  to  Galesburg,  Major  Charles  S. 
Cowan  wired  ahead  to  a  way  station  an  order  for  dinner,  for 
the  company,  as  a  free-will  offering.  In  the  evening  of  a 
January  day  in  1864  we  were  received  by  our  friends  in  the 
ancient  village  of  the  Yellow  Banks.  It  is  difficult  to  ade 
quately  set  forth  here  the  deep  sympathy  and  loving-kindness 
shown  us  by  our  old  friends  and  neighbors  during  our  leave 
of  absence  of  thirty  days.  We  shall  not  see  its  like  again,  for 
somehow  the  great  days  of  old  never  repeat  themselves. 

As  the  war  spirit  grew  in  fervor  from  year  to  year  the 
political  estrangements  and  antagonism  in  the  North  multi 
plied  so  that  almost  every  neighborhood  showed  the  limit  to 
which  people  can  be  drawn  in  the  fierce  enmities  of  a  civil 
war.  The  people  were  divided  as  formerly  between  the  two 
great  political  parties,  but  within  the  Democratic  party  arose 
another,  a  secret  organization  known  as  "The  Knights  of  the 
Golden  Circle,"  sufficiently  ornate  in  its  title  and  threatening 
in  its  teachings  to  create  the  suspicion  that  it  originated  in 
central  Illinois  and  the  southern  half  of  the  State,  southern 
Iowa,  Indiana  and  Ohio  and  along  the  border  counties  of 
other  States  adjoining  the  Confederacy.  Henderson  County 
was  afflicted  by  ambitious  gentlemen  of  this  description.  They 
took  their  cue  from  the  Right  Reverend  Henry  Clay  Dean 
("Dirty  Dean"),  formerly  of  Iowa,  later  of  Rebels'  Cove,  Mis- 


Recollections  of  Pioneer  and  Army  Life.  213 

souri,  Dan  Vorhees,  of  Indiana,  and  Vallandigham,  of  Ohio. 
The  official  title  of  the  organization  was  found  in  practice  to 
be  too  elaborate  for  the  Western  mind,  and  the  people  cut  it 
short  by  calling  the  members  the  "Copperheads'"  and  "But 
ternuts."  The  young  people  of  the  "Circle"  households  were 
the  more  demonstrative  in  their  efforts  to  show  the  world 
where  they  stood  on  the  great  question  at  issue.  They  evaded 
explanations  and  came  to  the  point  at  once  by  wearing  a  "But 
ternut"  pin — an  article  of  home-made  adornment  worn  as  a 
lady's  brooch.  On  the  occasion  of  a  social  event  held  at  the 
south  end  of  the  county  (in  Bedford  precinct,  I  believe)  be 
fore  our  return  on  veteran  furlough,  a  young  lady  had  the 
temerity  to  traverse  the  sentiments  of  the  Union  majority 
present  and  a  patriotic  woman  in  the  company  tore  the  offend 
ing  ornament  from  the  wearer's  person.  The  men  of  our 
company,  to  show  their  appreciation  of  this  act  and  to  com 
memorate  the  event  as  a  part  of  the  local  history  of  the  times, 
purchased  a  valuable  set  of  jewelry,  and  at  a  public  meeting 
where  a  banquet  was  served,  honored  the  heroine  by  presenting 
her  with  this  evidence  of  their  approval.  My  comrades  were 
kind  enough  to  ask  me  to  make  the  formal  presentation.  It  was 
an  interesting  occasion,  and  the  notoriety  given  the  incident 
served  a  good  purpose,  as  it  had  a  deterrent  effect  upon  insolent 
enemies  of  the  Union  cause  at  home.  The  meeting  was  held 
in  the  Methodist  church,  and  the  first  citizens  of  the  town  and 
vicinity  were  present  and  gave  their  hearty  assent  to  the  pro 
ceedings.  With  a  few  complimentary  phrases  I  endeavored 
to  discharge  my  comrades'  commission.  The  ceremony  closed 
with  one  of  those  characteristic  Civil  War  banquets  where  the 
abundance  and  variety  of  the  viands  were  beyond  belief. 

At  whose  initiative  I  do  not  remember,  but  in  a  burst  of 
generosity  a  liberal  appropriation  was  made  by  our  men,  and 
a  sword  purchased  and  presented  to  Captain  Sam  J.  Wilson. 
The  enthusiasm  of  E  Company  was  without  bounds  so  long 
as  our  "greenbacks"  held  out.  For  the  first  ten  days  of  our 
furlough  we  felt  equal  to  any  proposition  in  high  finance. 


214  Recollections  of  Pioneer  and  Army  Life. 

Hence  the  sword  affair.  General  Grant  and  other  heroes  had 
received  a  sword  at  the  hands  of  admirers,  and  our  lads  would 
hold  their  place  on  earth  with  the  best.  The  majority  "chipped 
in" ;  that  is  to  say,  those  who  had  a  reserve  fund  with  no  pre 
ferred  investments.  A  considerable  contingent  refused  to  "go 
broke"  over  the  sword.  I  was  solicited  to  make  the  presenta 
tion,  which  I  did.  There  was  a  big  crowd  present  to  witness 
the  ceremony.  McKinney's  Hall  was  packed  to  the  entrance 
and  our  sweethearts  were  there,  and  the  lamplight  gloated 
o'er.  In  presenting  the  sword  I  assumed  that  the  captain  was 
as  much  of  a  hero  as  anybody  and  a  good  deal  better  one  than 
some  we  had  heard  of,  although  I  did  not  press  the  point. 
Rev.  Hanson  backed  all  I  had  to  say  on  the  subject  and  went 
me  one  better,  and  as  the  affirmative  "had  it,"  we  adjourned 
to  another  hall  and  had  a  "shake-down." 


CHAPTER  XLI. 


THE;  KNIGHTS  OF  THE  GOLDEN  CIRCLE. 

During  the  winter  of  1863-64  the  "Copperheads"  con 
spired  with  Jeff  Davis  and  the  select  coterie  of  traitors  at  Rich 
mond  known  as  "The  Forty  Thieves"  to  control  the  next  Pres 
idential  election,  on  the  platform  that  "The  war  is  a  failure." 
The  details  of  the  scheme  were  perfected  in  the  councils  of 
the  Knights  of  the  Golden  Circle,  or  the  Sons  of  Liberty,  as 
they,  on  occasion,  preferred  to  call  themselves.  A  part  of 
their  general  plan,  as  it  is  now  well  known  (see  the  memoirs 
of  Geo.  H.  Bontwell,  Secretary  of  the  Treasurer  in  President 
Grant's  cabinet,  2d  Vol.,  pp.  57-61),  was  to  kidnap  President 
Lincoln,  hold  him  as  a  hostage  until  the  independence  of  the 
Confederacy  was  recognized;  failing  in  that,  and  in  the  event 
that  the  election  was  lost  to  the  Democrats,  to  murder  him. 
I  do  not  mean  to  say  that  the  masses  who  voted  for  the  Mc- 
Clellan  electors  nursed  the  thought  of  assassination,  but  I  do 
mean  to  say  that  the  leaders  of  the  "Copperhead"  branch  of 
the  Democratic  party  of  1864,  which  was  an  annex  of  the 
Confederate  Government  at  Richmond,  were  traitors  with  all 
these  intents  and  purposes.  Vallandigham  discussed  his  plans 
with  Jeff  Davis  and  the  Southern  leaders  during  his  expatria 
tion,  and  "the  man  without  a  country"  and  his  associates  gave 
aid  and  comfort  to  the  enemy,  in  cash,  in  an  all-pervading  spy 
system,  and  in  other  forms  without  stint. 

The  battle  of  Gettysburg  and  the  fall  of  Vicksburg,  fol 
lowed  by  the  flight  of  Bragg  from  Mission  Ridge  and  of  Long- 
street  from  Knoxville,  sent  a  wail  of  lamentation  throughout 
the  South,  and  the  waning  fortunes  of  the  Confederacy  made 


2i6  Recollections  of  Pioneer  and  Army  Life. 

it  imperative  that  Bill  Hanna,  as  an  auxiliary  of  the  "Copper 
head"  leaders  of  the  old  Military  Tract,  should  make  a  demon 
stration  to  prevent  the  Union  armies  from  overwhelming  Lee 
and  Johnston  in  Virginia  and  Georgia.  The  unorganized  rebel 
forces  in  Henderson  County  were  therefore  promptly  brought 
under  military  discipline :  a  charter  for  a  council  of  the  Knights 
of  the  Golden  Circle  was  secured:  the  ritual  also,  the  rules 
and  the  regulations  for  the  installation  of  members.  The 
gentlemen  concerned  felt  the  solemnity  of  the  occasion.  They 
conferred  fully  with  each  other,  with  Vallandigham  at  Wind 
sor,  Canada,  and  with  the  Confederate  authorities  at  Rich 
mond,  who  urged  sepulchral  secrecy  and  the  utmost  energy 
in  organization.  Hanna  and  his  men  responded  promptly. 
On  a  certain  night,  notable  in  the  history  of  Henderson  Coun 
ty,  these  patriots  of  the  bush  came  together  by  stealth  and 
posted  their  pickets.  The  council  being  called  to  order,  Bill 
Hanna,  in  suppressed  tones,  made  known  the  object  of  the 
meeting,  and  read  from  the  printed  matter  in  his  hands  a 
synopsis  that  gave  his  compatriots  a  vague  conception  of  the 
scope  and  purposes  of  the  order,  which  statement  carefully 
veiled  the  whole  truth  except  by  inference.  One  of  the  ob 
jects  was  to  create  as  large  an  armed  force  throughout  the 
North  as  possible;  to  do  this  their  unsuspecting  dupes  must 
be  inveigled  to  commit  themselves  by  oath  and  the  restraints 
of  association  and  comradeship  to  the  fortunes  of  a  desperate 
cause.  The  leaders  therefore  dealt  gently  with  the  unwary, 
but  were  open  and  bold  among  those  who  had  their  confidence. 
This  meeting  of  the  charter  members  was  confined  largely  to 
the  great  unwashed,  unsanctified  Democracy — such  as  Bill 
Hanna,  Sam  Hutchinson,  Tom  Record,  Lynn  Carson,  Jon 
athan  and  Sam  Mickey,  Elihu  Robertson,  and  other  well- 
known  choice  spirits  of  the  Yellow  Banks,  Stringtown,  Bald 
Bluff,  Sagetown,  and  Biggsville.  While  the  oath  taken  was 
about  all  they  could  stand  up  to,  they  swallowed  it  at  a  gulp 
and  made  a  pretense  of  calling  for  more.  Bill  Hanna,  having 
been  previously  sworn  in  and  qualified  by  the  State  Council, 


Recollections  of  Pioneer  and  Army  Life.  217 

now  called  before  him  the  charter  members,  to  whom  he  re 
peated  the  following  oath,  line  upon  line,  which  was  assented 
to  in  like  manner : 


The  Opening  Declaration. 

"Do  you  believe,  the  present  war  now  being  waged  against 
us  to  be  unconstitutional  ?" 
Answer:     "We  do." 

"Then  receive  the  obligation." 

The  Oath,  or  Bill  H anna's  Holy  Alliance. 
(A  true  copy.) 

"I  do  solemnly  swear  in  the  presence  of  Almighty  God 
that  I  will  support  the  Constitution  of  the  United  States  and 
the  State  in  which  I  reside,  and  keep  it  holy! 

"I  further  promise  and  swear  that  I  will  go  to  the  aid  of 
all  true  and  loyal  Democrats,  and  oppose  the  confiscation  of 
their  property,  either  North  or  South! 

"And  I  further  promise  and  swear  that  I  will  suffer  my 
body  severed  in  four  parts,  one  part  east,  out  of  the  East  gate ; 
one  part  west,  out  of  the  West  gate ;  one  part  north,  out  of 
the  North  gate;  and  one  part  south,  out  of  the  South  gate, 
before  I  will  suffer  the  privileges  bequeathed  to  us  by  our 
forefathers  blotted  out  or  trampled  under  foot  forever! 

"I  futher  promise  and  swear  that  I  will  go  to  the  aid, 
from  the  first  to  the  fourth  signal,  of  all  loyal  Democrats, 
either  North  or  South. 

"I  further  promise  and  swear  that  I  will  do  all  in  my 
power  against  the  present  Yankee,  abolition,  disunion  Admin 
istration. 

"And  I  further  promise  and  swear  that  I  will  not  reveal 
any  of  the  secret  signs,  passwords,  or  grips  to  any  not  legally 
authorized  by  this  order,  binding  myself  under  no  less  a  pen 
alty  than  having  my  bowels  torn  out  and  cast  to  the  four  winds 
of  heaven ;  so  help  me  God." 


218  Recollections  of  Pioneer  and  Army  Life. 

The  tenderfeet  in  this  assembly  felt  some  distinct  qualms 
at  the  prospect,  under  certain  contingencies,  of  being  hung, 
drawn,  and  quartered  for  no  worse  offense  than  a  mild  ad 
hesion  to  the  administration  of  Abraham  Lincoln,  who  was 
accepted  by  many  of  their  neighbors  as  one  of  the  prophets 
of  the  ages,  a  seer  in  the  councils  of  the  wise  and  prudent, 
the  herald  indeed  of  a  better  day ;  but  they  were  reassured 
by  a  motion  to  adjourn  to  the  school-house  for  an  hour  of 
social  intercourse,  where  elaborate  preparations  had  been  made 
to  jolly  the  boys.  The  men  from  Sagetown  vied  with  the 
veterans  from  Bald  Bluffs  in  the  glow  and  warmth  of  their 
enthusiasm ;  Stringtown  led  the  Yellow  Banks  a  merry  dance ; 
and  the  Smith  Creek  boys  emptied  the  flowing  bowl  in  a  way 
to  disgust  the  Biggsville  patriots.  The  leaders  mingled  with 
the  common  herd  like  birds  of  a  feather.  Bill  Hanna  fratern 
ized  with  the  boys  with  that  stereotyped  sneer  for  which  he 
was  famous  somewhat  modified.  Colonel  Sam  Hutchinson  did 
not  unbend — that  was  spinally  impossible;  but  he  cast  some 
of  his  most  benignant  smiles  upon  the  assembly  from  the 
Hutchinson  Heights.  Lynn  Carson  and  a  pard  from  Sagetown 
were  convivially  inseparable  (the  bibulous  twins  of  the  even 
ing),  and  they  finally  went  to  sleep  in  each  other's  arms.  The 
Tipperary  round  of  pleasure  was  at  high  tide  when  the  gray 
of  the  morning  compelled  the  warriors  to  strike  hands  with 
pledges  of  eternal  fidelity  and  disperse. 


CHAPTER  XLIL 


THE  CONFEDERATE  CAMPAIGN  IN  HENDERSON  COUNTY. 

Our  thirty  days  at  home  at  the  crisis  of  the  war  intensi 
fied  the  bitter  feeling  between  the  loyal  citizens  arid  the  "Cop 
perheads."  But  the  influential  Union  men  at  the  county  seat 
were  not  of  one  mind  respecting  their  neighbors  in  secret  op 
position  to  the  Government.  Men  like  Fred  Ray,  Sr,  and 
Sumner  S.  Phelps  and  others  of  the  same  relative  standing  did 
not  agree  on  all  points  involved  in  the  peace  of  the  commu 
nity.  I  conversed  with  them  freely  on  these  subjects.  Mr. 
Ray  was  peculiarly  sensitive,  apprehensive  of  incendiarism ; 
and,  to  state  the  bald  fact  as  it  was,  he  distrusted  a  brawling 
soldier  as  much  as  a  "Copperhead."  Ben  Harrington  offered 
to  show  me  where  the  Confederate  forces  of  the  town  had 
arms  secreted.  Out  of  regard  to  the  conservative  sentiment 
among  the  Union  men,  the  majority  of  our  men  neither  said 
nor  did  anything  to  provoke  a  collision.  As  for  those  arms, 
we  were  not  under  martial  law  at  home ;  and  as  for  Bill  Hanna 
and  Sam  Hutchinson  and  their  retainers,  we  considered  them 
impotent.  Bill  Hanna  was  a  nice  man.  He  was  much  deferred 
to.  When  he  sneezed,  some  of  his  neighbors  never  failed  to 
explode  in  concert  with  him.  His  only  fault  was,  he  pulled 
off  from  the  men  who  staked  life  and  treasure  on  the  Union, 
and  became  an  ordinary  skulking  "Copperhead." 

But  notwithstanding  the  friendly  deportment  of  our  boys 
during  their  freedom  from  military  restraint,  we  did  not  es 
cape  attention  from  Bill  Hanna's  "bushwhackers." 

I  have  briefly  stated  the  condition  of  affairs  at  home 
when  on  a  Saturday  a  few  of  our  men  of  the  pugilistic  tem 
perament  who  had  imbibed  freely  of  the  usual  stimulants  con- 


22O  Recollections  of  Pioneer  and  Army  Life. 

sidered  themselves  still  in  the  pursuit  of  the  enemy,  and  hav 
ing  one  of  the  most  notorious  of  the  local  type  pointed  out  to 
them  on  the  street,  gave  chase,  and  cornered  him  in  a  dry 
goods  store  with  the  object  of  compelling  him  to  take  the  oath 
of  allegiance  to  the  Government.  It  hurt  the  pride  of  the 
"Butternut"  to  take  the  oath  under  compulsion,  and  if  his 
friends  could  have  been  summoned  at  the  moment,  there 
would  have  been  an  encounter  of  more  or  less  impoitance. 
There  was  some  delay  in  getting  the  rebel  courier  off  through 
out  the  county  with  dispatches,  but  at  the  summons  to  arms 
there  was  a  prompt  uprising  among  the  local  step-sons  of  Jeff 
Davis.  Bill  Hanna  left  his  plow  in  the  furrow ;  Sam  Hutchin- 
son  spit  on  his  flintlock,  wiped  off  the  dust,  jumped  bareback 
on  his  old  mare  and  rode  at  breakneck  speed  for  the  rendez 
vous.  Bald  Bluff  arrived  with  strong  reinforcements.  It  be 
ing  Saturday  night,  Sagetown  was  in  a  condition  of  indeter 
minate  consciousness,  with  a  gallon  jug  of  "Coonrod's  best"  in 
reserve,  and  on  the  way  over  lost  the  road,  and  did  not  reach 
headquarters  till  after  midnight. 

Jake  Spangler  and  the  learned  blacksmith  from  String- 
town  struck  the  highway  with  loaded  powder-horns.  The  army 
assembled  in  the  mountains  on  the  head-waters  of  Smith's 
Creek,  and  detachments  continued  to  arrive  on  the  grounds 
on  all  the  public  roads  up  to  a  late  hour.  It  was  a  formidable 
mounted  force,  well  equipped.  All  movements  were  carefully 
muffled;  all  the  approaches  carefully  picketed.  General  Bill 
Hanna  arrived  on  the  ground  by  a  circuitous  route,  and  cau 
tiously  reconnoitered  his  own  command  from  behind  a  hay 
stack  before  he  ventured  to  make  himself  known.  His  ad 
vance  guard  having  completed  a  final  patrol  of  the  ground 
ahead  of  him  and  notified  him  that  the  way  was  clear,  he 
assembled  his  escort  and  rode  to  Colonel  Sam  Hutchinson's 
headquarters  in  great  state.  The  troops  were  massed  and  the 
affairs  of  the  hour  carried  on  in  suppressed  tones,  no  fires  or 
lights  being  allowed.  A  large  number  of  recruits  had  been 
sworn  in  at  the  sub-stations  during  the  weeks  preceding,  and 


Recollections  of  Pioneer  and  Army  Life.  221 

the  officers  and  most  of  the  rank  and  file  being  unacquainted, 
it  was  determined  to  improve  the  esprit  de  corps  by  introduc 
ing  the  general  commanding  the  Department  to  the  army. 
Colonel  Hutchinson  therefore  stepped  forward  and  saluting, 
said :  "Gentlemen,  I  have  the  honor  to  introduce  to  you  the 
brigadier -general  commanding  the  gallant  Knights  of  this 
Congressional  Department.  Soldiers !  I  propose  three  sup 
pressed  cheers  for  General  Bill  Hanna."  The  noble  general 
advanced,  lifted  his  shako,  smiled,  bowed  in  an  uncertain  way, 
both  right  and  left,  and  said :  "I  am  delighted  to  see  you  look 
ing  so  well  to-night.  I  am  looking  extremely  well  myself. 
There  are  none  like  me.  I  am  the  only  one— the  real  thrng,  in 
Henderson  County.  It  is  true,  gentlemen,  that  I  have  only  a 
single  star  on  each  shoulder  to  designate  my  rank  during  this 
night  attack,  but  when  this  cruel  campaign  is  over  I  shall  have 
gold-wash  epaulets  equal  to  those  General  Scott  wore  when 
he  led  the  victorious  American  army  into  the  capital  of  Mex 
ico.  Wait  and  see.  It  would  be  useless  to  wear  gold  epaulets 
in  a  night  attack.  You  could  not  see  them,  but  I'll  be  with 
you.  Understand  me,  pray :  I  am  your  brigadier  only.  Colonel 
Huthchinson  will  command  in  the  field ;  he  will  lead  }  cu :  I 
will  follow :  follow  all  the  way,  even  to  the  gates  of  the  city." 
Lynn  Carson,  his  face  all  allaze  with — with — well,  Lynn  broke 
out  in  a  wild  "Hooray"  but  was  choked  off  in  the  midst  of 
his  "hoo."  A  voice  broke  in  here — that  of  Brother  Jonathan, 
who  only  the  day  before  had  his  patriotism  refreshed  by  tak 
ing  the  oath  at  the  Yellow  Banks :  "Gentlemen,  this  is  the 
winter  of  our  discontent;  the  bveeze  is  chi'ly  for  Democrats 
of  our  peculiar  stripe,  and  as  the  school-hov.st  has  been  warm 
ed  for  our  accommodation,  I  move,  sir,  that  we  repair  thither 
to  complete  our  preparations  for  our  advance."  The  change 
of  base  was  made  without  the  loss  of  a  man.  The  hig^i  ones 
and  the  powerful  Knights  entered  the  audience-chamber  with 
grave  visages,  big  with  portent  Colonel  Hutchinson  iirode 
grandly  in,  his  lofty  mannei  and  stern  glance  enough  to  wither 
a  hand-spike  (his  brave  comrades  saluting  and  bowing  V  w  as 


222  Recollections  of  Pioneer  and  Army  Life. 

he  passed),  and  took  a  seat  on  the  left  of  the  brigadier-general. 
A  warrior  from  Biggsville  got  his  monocle  deeply  imbedded 
between  eyebrow  and  his  cheek-bone,  and  covering  the  crowd 
with  his  questioning  gaze,  gave  his  thumb  a  rotary  turn;  there 
was  a  responsive  conference  aside,  between  the  forces  from 
Sagetown  and  vSmith's  Creek,  and  the  foreman  addressed  the 
assembly,  saying:  "Your  Imminence,  has  the  refreshments 
arriv?"  Lynn  Carson  bore  down  proudly  and  answered, 
"They  have,  sir!"  saluted,  and  brought  a  two-gallon  jug  down 
upon  the  table  with  a  thwack  that  made  the  gold  and  silver 
plate  on  the  sideboard  jingle  again.  Lieutenant-Colonel  Tom 
Record,  the  second  in  command,  was  painfully  affected  by  the 
demonstration,  mounted  the  tribune,  and  in  his  most  scorch 
ing  manner  said:  "We  didn't  come  here  to  drink  Schiedam 
schnapps ;  I  'm  no  Dutchman,  nohow.  You  have  heard,"  he 
proceeded,  "the  reverberations  walluping  -up  and  down  over 
our  distracted  country  ?  You  have  heard,"  the  orator  went  on 
to  say,  his  voice  rising  to  a  most  painful  pitch,  "what  Wilbur 
F.  Storey,  in  his  Chicago  Times,  calls  our  grand  old  Demo 
cratic  party?  He  calls  it  'a  putrid  reminiscence' ;  are  you  going 
to  stand  that?"  "No,  begorry!"  reared  the  battalion  from 
Sagetown,  and  the  gallant  Colonel  Hutchinson  banged  the 
round  table  with  his  eminent  sword  and  cried,  "Not  much, 
Mary  Ann!"  Colonel  Record  proceeded:  "Men,  patriots, 
Democrats  !"  ["That 's  us  !"  said  Smith's  Creek.]  "We  didn't 
come  here  to  limber  up  and  be  hauled  home  in  some  neighbor's 
wagon.  We're  here  for  war!  Lincoln's  hirelings  attacked 
us  in  the  streets  of  the  Yellow  Banks,  and  we  're  goin'  to  wipe 
out  the  stain — on  to  the  Yellow  Banks !"  The  orator,  purple 
with  wrath  sat  down  to  recover  himself.  At  this  point  Gen 
eral  Bill  Hanna  arose,  gave  his  accentuated  sneer  another 
twist  and  said:  "Colonel  Record  has  spoken  to  the  point;  we 
are  already  in  the  field;  why  stand  we  here  idle?  Is  life  so 
dear  and  peace  so  sweet  as  to  be  purchased  by  the  price  of 
chains  and  slavery?  There  are  armed  men  now  on  the  plains 
of  Boston,  but  I  am  suspicious  that  they  are  no  friends  of 


Recollections  of  Pioneer  and  Army  Life.  223 

ours.  If  those  men  on  the  plains  of  Boston  should  make  a 
mistake — a  feint  only  of  reinforcing  Genersl  Gra^t  in  Vir 
ginia  and  suddenly  drop  down  on  us  here  in  Henderson  Coun 
ty,  in  the  language  of  Uncle  Remus,  where  would  be  our  mo 
lasses  jug?"  "Now,  comrades,"  continued  the  general  un 
sheathing  his  glittering  blade,  "we  are  about  to  engage  in  a 
military  expedition  of  the  first  magnitude  and  in  the  organiza 
tion  of  our  command  it  is  proper  that  the  troops  which  I  shall 
have  the  honor  to  command  (not  actually,  but  technically) 
should  have  an  official  title.  What  shall  it  be?"  The  learned 
blacksmith  from  Stringtown  took  the  floor  and  explained  that 
as  "we  are  going  after  large  game,  we  should  need  the  buck 
and  ball  cartridge,  and  happily  our  double-barreled  shot-guns 
will  prove  the  most  effective  weapon ;  I  therefore  move,  sir, 
that  our  troopers  be  given  a  descriptive  title,  namely — 'The 
Shot -Gun  Brigade.'  "  By  unanimous  consent  an  official  order 
was  issued  confirming  this  title  and  setting  forth  the  subdivis 
ions  of  the  army  and  designating  the  commanders  thereof.  At 
this  point  the  army  took  to  the  woods,  and  under  a  scrub  oak 
Col.  Hutchinson,  commander  in  the  field  of  all  the  expedition 
ary  forces,  assumed  formal  direction  of  the  fortunes  of  the 
Confederate  cause  in  old  Henderson.  It  was  a  most  solemn  oc 
casion,  and  in  the  pale  moonlight  it  was  noticeable  how  much 
the  distinguished  department  commander  and  his  troops  had 
aged  on  the  eve  of  the  battle- — so  wan,  and  so  swan-like,  in 
that  they  sat  them  down  On  the  frozen  ground  to  weep  and 
sing  their  last  war-chant.  There  was  danger  of  a  collapse, 
and  field  orders  for  an  advance  were  issued  at  once.  En 
passant,  it  may  be  noted  that  the  scrub  oak  where  Colonel 
Hutchinson  drew  his  sword  and  assumed  command  of  Demo 
crats  especially  fond  of  the  Constitution  is  an  historic  spot — 
a  shrine  for  the  has-beens  so  long  as  the  world  shall  stand. 
These  eight  and  forty  years  now  they  have  made  their  pious 
pilgrimages  to  the  spot  and  chipped  the  historic  oak  till  noth 
ing  is  left  of  it. 


224  Recollections  of  Pioneer  and  Army  Life. 

On  further  reflection,  General  Hanna  summoned  the  offi 
cers  to  a'last  council,  and  explained  the  necessity  for  a  gen 
eral  review  of  the  army  before  opening  the  campaign,  an.i 
12  o'clock  midnight  was  the  hour  named  in  general  orders  for 
the  pageant.  "The  moon  is  at  the  full,"  said  the  brigadier, 
"and  I  have  carefully  scrutinized  it  over  my  right  shoulder, 
and  the  signs  are  all  propitious.  A  moonlight  review  is  an 
innovation,"  said  he,  "but  I  am  introducing  improved  meth 
ods  in  all  military  operations  in  my  department  and  I  shall 
make  Wellington  and  Nap  the  First  and  the  rest  of  the  boys 
ashamed  of  themselves  before  I  conclude  my  triumphs  on 
Fame's  eternal  camping-ground." 

At  the  blast  of  the  bugles  and  the  roll  of  the  drum,  the 
Stars  and  Bars  dipped  and  the  sabres  flashed  in  salute  as  the 
group  of  mounted  officers  and  their  escorts  appeared  at  the 
head  of  the  column.  It  was  noticed  at  once,  when  they  made 
ready  for  a  dash  down  the  line,  that  Colonel  Htitchinson's  old 
mare  was  gay;  she  snuffed  the  battle  from  afar,  and  com 
municated  her  martial  spirit  to  the  brigadier's  nag,  and  the 
fever  spread  through  the  group,  the  most  of  whom  were  riding 
bareback  with  blind  bridles.  A  rare  exhibition  of  horseman 
ship  took  place.  The  spirited  steeds  pirouetted  around  about, 
lifted  fore  and  aft;  standing  at  times  heroically  on  their 
haunches.  Colonel  Hutchinson  kept  his  seat  admirably,  one 
hand  clutching  both  the  mane  and  the  reins,  the  other  holding 
on  to  his  plug  hat,  at  an  angle  on  the  back  of  his  head,  but 
pounded  down  securely  over  his  eyebrows,  his  knees  gripping 
the  shoulders  of  old  "Snip."  General  Bill  Hanna  never  ap 
peared  to  better  advantage,  and  in  the  chopping  sea  of  agi 
tated  horseflesh  Baul  de  Conying  Ham,  Lynnovitch  Carson- 
ovosk  and  Jake  Spangler  acquitted  themselves  beyond  praise. 
'At  the  firing  of  the  gun  they  were  off;  the  hirsute  extensions 
of  the  war-horses  rose  to  the  occasion ;  between  Colonel  Sam 
Hutchinson  and  the  brigadier  it  was  nip  and  tuck,  and  the 
descent  down  the  line  was  accomplished  in  a  style  befitting  a 
battery  of  discharging  interrogation  points.  Instantly  the  col- 


Recollections  of  Pioneer  and  Army  Life.  225 

umn,  in  fours,  followed  at  the  trot,  Colonel  Record,  the  second 
in  command,  acting  as  rear  guard.  A  night  march  in  the  pres 
ence  of  the  enemy  is  a  dangerous  performance,  but  the  com 
mand  reached  the  Davenport  Gap  in  the  Henderson  County 
Alps  with  a  loss  only  of  those  who  fell  over  seas,  into  the 
fence-corners.  At  this  point  the  force  moved  with  circum 
spection.  The  head  of  the  column  approached  the  narrow 
defile  with  extreme  caution.  The  veterans  from  Sagetown 
were  vexed  at  the  reckless  bravery  of  Colonel  Hutchinson,  and 
expostulated  with  him  for  exposing  his  valiant  person  on  the 
outposts;  but  the  noble  commander  made  as  if  to  tear  him 
self  away  from  them  and  plunge  more  deeply  into  the  danger 
ous  gorge.  The  brave  men  rode  forward  in  groups,  and 
pressed  the  daring  officer  quietly  on  the  arm,  saying:  "Prithee, 
mon,  is  it  dyin  ye  're  after?  Stay,  milud;  for  if  a  cannon-ball 
should  tunnel  yer  stomach,  who  would  care  for  mother  thin?" 
The  colonel  was  undismayed.  The  crisis  was  approaching, 
and  another  council  of  war  was  held,  at  which  it  was  deter 
mined  to  secure  the  crossings  of  the  Henderson  at  Jack's  Mill, 
Coghill's  and  Hollingsworth's.  It  was  noticed  that  Colonel 
Tom  Record  had  something  pressing  hard  on  his  giant  mind, 
and  the  way  was  opened  for  him  to  assert  himself.  Address 
ing  the  commander  in  the  field,  he  asked:  "What  is  the  ob 
ject  of  this  expedition?"  "To  capture  the  Yellow  Banks." 
"But  have  you  a  casus  belli?"  "We  have,  sir,  two  of 
'em,  and  we'll  be  overstocked  if  any  of  these  men  straggle 
from  the  column  over  ground  dedicated  for  thirty  days  to 
Major  Cowan's  men."  "But  have  you  sent  in  an  ultimatum 
to  the  burgomaster?"  "Brother  Jonothan  did  that  yesterday 
when  he  hiked  through  the  gates  to  give  the  alarm."  "Have 
you  ordered  the  non-combatants  to  the  rear?"  Here  Brig- 
adier-peneral  Bill  Hanna  interrupted  by  saying:  "I  shall  be 
in  close  touch  with  the  rear  guard  as  soon  as  my  horse  can 
carry  me."  "Banzai!"  yelled  the  troops.  Private  Baul  de 
Conying  Ham  now  advanced  and  modestly  inquired  if  the 
refreshment  train  was  at  hand.  Corporal  Lynnovich  Car- 


226  Recollections  of  Pioneer  and  Army  Life. 

sonovosk  replied  that  the  supply  was  getting  low,  but  he  had 
adjusted  his  personal  necessities  to  the  situation,  and  believed 
"it"  would  hold  out  "till  we  had  dynamited  the  breastworks  and 
captured  the  city."  "General  Hanna,"  said  Colonel  Hutchin- 
son,"  addressing  the  department  commander,  "before  you  fall 
back  on  the  teamsters,  can  you  think  of  anything  we  have 
omitted  to  do  to  compel  a  glorious  victory?"  "Colonel,  I  beg 
pardon,  but  I  think  I  hear  a  noise  on  our  front,  and  I  will  send 
in  a  written  report  on  that  point  to-morrow."  Saying  which, 
he  waved  his  new  buckskin  gauntlet  and  fell  back  on  the  field 
hospital.  Detachments  were  now  told  off  for  the  up-river 
crossings,  the  commanders  stuffed  with  precautionary  orders 
of  the  severest  description.  The  army  was  now  massed  for 
final  instructions,  which  were  given  in  a  few  incisive  words : 
"Democrats  of  the  glorious  days  of  the  Constitution  as  it  was ! 
Forty  centuries  look  down  upon  you  from  these  Alpine  sum 
mits.  We  are  now  at  close  quarters  with  the  enemy,"  con 
tinued  the  colonel;  "we  are  about  to  advance,  and  as  a  pre 
liminary,  Corporal  Carsonovosk  will  issue  a  final  refreshment 
ration."  Turning  to  the  engineers,  the  colonel  said:  "Gentle 
men,  you  will  see  if  Davenport  has  fortified  the  bridge."  They 
returned  in  two  minutes  and  a  half  and  breathlessly  reported 
that  Davenport  kept  the  bridge,  as  in  days  of  old;  that  he 
was  sound  asleep,  and  that  his  rooster  had  called  the  hour  with 
a  clearness  and  jocularity  that  showed  he  had  escaped  the 
whooping-cough.  "The  route  then  is  practicable?"  said  the 
colonel.  "It  is,"  responded  the  civil  engineers  with  emphasis. 
"Is  Colonel  Record,  the  rear  guard,  in  position?"  demanded 
the  colonel.  "He  has  deployed  himself,  and  is  holding  on 
prepared  for  the  worst,"  said  Baul  de  Conying  Ham.  "Then," 
said  the  gallant  colonel,  "let  Le  Grande  Armee  follow  its  com 
mander."  The  bugler  was  heard  winding  his  horn  through 
the  enclosing  mountains,  signal  rockets  from  the  detachments 
at  the  up-river  crossings  were  seen  bursting  in  the  far  ether, 
and  there  was  a  simultaneous  dash  from  all  points,  up  through 
the  black-jacks,  converging  upon  the  Temple  of  Justice,  where 


Recollections  of  Pioneer  and  Army  Life.  227 

in  accents  aspirate  they  tied  the  mules  and  the  plow-horses 
and  the  various  and  sundry  saddle-nags  to  the  bushes,  and  in 
their  heavy-tramping  cavalry  boots  and  loud-clanging  sabres 
marched  up  the  grand  staircase  and  occupied  the  ancient 
panoplied  hall  of  the  judges  and  magistrates  in  all  the  splen 
dor  of  Solomon  of  old.  It  was  yet  dark  and  a  solemn  hush  fell 
upon  the  brigade  in  full  possession  of  the  stronghold  of  the 
burghers,  who  were  not  aware,  and  would  not  for  some  time 
realize,  that  they  were  victims  of  Bill  Hanna's  four  hundred. 
But  never  since  the  days  of  Hannibal  had  a  military  surprise 
been  worked  out  with  greater  precision  and  success.  General 
Hanna  embraced  the  colonel  and  re-embraced  him,  saying,  "It 
was  my  plan,  but  it 's  your  treat'"  Colonel  Sam  soured  at  this, 
and  the  silence  was  audible.  The  relations  between  the  com 
manders  continued  strained,  and  each  took  a  window  and  set 
himself  the  task  of  observing  the  landscape ;  meantime  the  sun, 
after  the  second  Austerlitz,  had  dawned.  For  some  incruta- 
ble  reason  the  brigade  did  not  sally  forth  and  slaughter  the 
burghers  in  the  streets,  and  the  unsuspecting  people  were  in 
awe  at  the  number  of  horses  tied  under  the  bushes,  and  with 
bated  breath  inquired  the  reason  thereof.  It  seemed  that  hav 
ing  achieved  a  famous  victory,  the  instinct  of  the  Knights  of 
the  Golden  Circle  to  lurk  in  hidden  places  asserted  itself,  and 
Bill  Hanna  was  abashed  at  the  prospect  of  having  to. look  an 
honest  man  in  the  face  in  broad  day. 

To  John  McKinney,  Jr.,  and  others,  who  called  upon  him 
for  an  explanation,  he  laid  great  stress  upon  the  fact  that  if 
the  brigade  had  attempted  to  put  the  populace  to  the  sword, 
the  schoenc  Fraus  would  have  frustrated  the  design  from 
their  upper  chambers  by  emptying  their  yellow  crockery  down 
upon  the  heads  of  his  Cossacks. 

As  the  sun  mounted  the  blue  vault  the  children  appeared 
upon  the  streets  in  their  bright  frocks  and  the  church-bells 
began  to  call  the  people  to  prayer.  "What  day  of  the  week  is 
this?"  said  the  brigadier,  turning  suddenly  from  the  window 
and  addressing  Colonel  Record.  "General."  replied  Colonel 


228  .Re 'collections  of  Pioneer  and  Army  Life. 

Tom,  "do  you  know,  1  had  lost  the  count  myself,  and  the  old 
Cumberland  stone  church  is  open  for  service  to-day,  and  I  'm 
going  to  have  trouble  to  square  accounts  with  my  wife." 
"Hold!  there  comes  Ed  Patterson  with  a  basket  of  rations," 
said  a  high  private,  "and  it  begins  to  look  like  we  must  feed 
and  get  out  of  this."  The  refreshments  were  served  in  silence, 
and  by  twos  and  threes  the  brigade  dissolved  and  quietly 
disappeared. 

A  close  study  of  the  voluminous  Confederate  archives 
reveals  the  unique  character  of  the  military  operations  under 
General  Hanna.  It  is  clear  from  the  records  that  he  was  a 
war  lord  of  the  first  water.  Pie  is  now  in  heaven;  and  if,  on 
my  arrival  there,  he  comes  forward,  out  of  deference  to  a  per 
manent  accession  to  the  citizenship  of  the  place,  to  do  me 
honor,  I  shall  recognize  him  cordially,  and  shall  be  happy  to 
receive  his  personal  assurance  that  he  is  now  supporting  the 
administration. 


THE  ATLANTA  CAMPAIGN; 

OR, 

THE  HUNDRED-DAYS  BATTLE. 


On  our  return  to  our  old  camp  at  Rossville,  Georgia,  in 
February,  1864,  we  occupied  winter-quarters  cabins,  for  the 
cold  still  boxed  the  compass  and  refused  to  leave.  Following 
the  resignation  of  Major  Charles  S.  Cowan,  on  a  vote  of  the 
field  officers  of  the  regiment,  Captain  Sam  J.  Wilson,  of  our 
company,  was  advanced  to  the  majority;  and  by  the  almost 
if  not  quite  unamimous  consent  of  Company  E,  Governor 
Richard  Yates  was  authorized  to  honor  me  with  a  commission 
for  the  vacant  lieutenantcy.  The  spring  of  1864  opened  early 
and  the  weather  was  beautiful.  There  was  a  note  of  prepara 
tion  on  every  hand  for  the  momentous  events  of  this  year,  and 
troops  were  massing  in  camps  around  us,  and  as  far  as  the  foot 
of  the  Pigeon  Mountains,  around  Ringgold,  twenty  miles  away. 
We  had  a  level  parade-ground,  and  squad,  company,  batallion 
and  brigade  drills  were  the  daily  routine.  It  was  near  this 
camp  where  Dan  McCook's  brigade  was  drilling  that  Dr.  Mary 
Walker,  assistant  surgeon  so  that  brigade,  was  captured  while 
riding  beyond  our  lines.  The  "Johnmes"  in  catching  Mary 
in  their  drag-net  got  hold  of  a  freak  which  was  a  surprise  and 
a  conundrum ;  but,  after  making  a  close  study  of  it,  they  re 
turned  it  in  as  good  condition  as  when  they  got  it. 

When  not  otherwise  engaged,  we  made  excursions  over 
the  battle-field  of  Chickamauga,  close  at  hand.  In  the  few 
months  that  had  intervened  since  Bragg  and  Longstreet  had 
swept  over  this  field  little  change  had  taken  place.  In  the 
somber  woods  rude  log  pens,  made  of  the  fallen,  half-rotted 
timber,  had  been  built  over  the  graves  of  some  of  the  precious 


230  Recollections  of  Pioneer  and  Army  Life. 

dead,  the  lowly  resting-places  of  others  were  marked  in  sim 
pler  fashion,  and  here  the  trees,  riven  by  the  vengeful  wedges 
of  war,  held  up  to  the  view  their  splintered  fingers.  The  ten 
der  opening  leaves  were  now  spreading  a  canopy  of  green 
over  the  scene  and  the  warm  sunlight  lay  in  mottled  patches 
upon  the  earth.  I  trod  Death's  deserted  banquet-hall  alone. 
The  birds  in  the  leafy  boughs  and  the  winged  thoughts  with 
in  repeopled  the  forest  paths  to  the  exclusion  of  the  erstwhile 
bloody  harvest. 


April  3Oth.  In  camp  at  Rossville,  Georgia.  Mustered. 
Packed  baggage  for  the  campaign.  Reuben  Bellus,  losing  the 
conveniences-  of  settled  camp,  has  determined  to  "take  it  cool," 
and  says  he  is  "only  on  a  visit."  Officers  assembled  at  Put's 
Ranch  for  dinner  to-day  for  the  first  time.  Lieut.-Col.  Mac 
Wood  and  Col.  Tillson  guests.  Spring  showers.  James  Simons 
returned  from  Smallpox  Hospital.  A  thrilling  future  before 
us — men  feel  it,  display  it  in  their  faces,  and  jest  upon  it. 
Play  at  draughts  with  Lieut.-Col.  Wood. 

May  ist.  Sabbath.  At  dusk  heard  voices  engaged  in  sing 
ing  hymns.  Mistrusting  the  cause,  set  out  in  the  direction  of 
the  sound  and  found  in  a  distant  camp  a  large  assembly  en 
grossed  in  religious  exercises.  Chaplains  of  regiments  and 
others  made  remarks  which  interested  •  me.  Many  fervent 
prayers  offered  up,  bearing  upon  the  success  of  the  approach 
ing  campaign. 

2d.  A  day  long  to  be  remembered.  The  sun  rose  in  all 
his  glory  from  behind  the  eastern  mountains.  Peace  and 
beauty  smiled  upon  the  landscape.  Silently  the  battalions 
formed  in  solid  masses  preparatory  to  quitting  Rossville  for 
ever.  Our  regiment  formed  on  the  color-line  at  8  A.  M.  and 
stacked  arms.  Hear  the  hoarse  thump  and  clatter  of  "i6th 
and  6oth's"  bass  and  tenor  drums !  My  eyes  wander  among 
the'  clouds  above  the  summit  of  Lookout,  who  sits  in  his  maj 
esty,  the  waters  of  the  Tennessee  in  his  lap.  and  rules  the 


Recollections  of  Pioneer  and  Army  Life.  231 

illimitable  region  around  as  only  a  true  king  of  mountains  can. 
How  softly  blue  his  tawny  sides  appear  in  the  vapory,  en 
chanting  morning  air !  How  the  masses  of  Carrara-white  clouds 
wheel  around  his  frowning  forehead !  The  hour  has  come. 
Gen.  Morgan  and  staff  appear  on  the  road;  the  blue  column 
links  on,  and  drags  its  slow  length  behind.  They  come !  Adjt. 
Wiseman  on  his  gray  mount  at  the  side  of  General  Morgan, 
next  the  escort  ride  gayly  on,  bearing  the  brigade  guidon,  two 
crescents  on  a  red  and  blue  ground;  then  the  brigade  band, 
chanting  a  national  hymn.  The  line  opens,  our  regiment  files 
into  its  place,  and  the  winter  camp  is  seen  no  more.  Halt  near 
Ringgold  at  12  M.;  went  into  camp  on  north  side  of  Chick- 
amauga  Creek  at  2  p.  M.  Our  cavalry  engaged  the  enemy  in 
the  mountains  on  our  front. 

4th.  Visited  signal  station  situated  on  the  summit  of 
mountain  to  left  of  Gap.  Found  a  throng  of  eager  comrades 
looking  rebel-ward.  Could  see  the  enemy's  outposts  and  our 
own.  Facing  north,  could  see  King  "Lookout"  and  his  train — 
the  latter  receding  to  the  left — southwest  and  disappearing  on 
the  horizon.  Squads  of  our  cavalry  dashing  along  at  the  base  of 
the  hills.  The  view  of  our  camps  inspiring — vast  in  extent  and 
growing  larger  momentarily — the  little  white  tents  half  hid  in 
the  evergreen  forest  presented  a  charming  picture.  The  vil 
lage  directly  beneath  us.  Night,  received  orders  to  move  for 
to-morrow. 

5th.  Marched  at  daylight,  passed  through  the  mountains 
by  the  pass  where  General  Hooker  overtook  the  enemy's  rear 
guard  after  the  battle  of  Mission  Ridge,  and  engaged  it,  and 
came  off  worsted,  losing  500  killed  and  wounded.  The  trees 
as  we  passed  through  gave  evidence  of  the  fight,  as  also  the 
graves  on  the  mountain-side.  Had  a  pleasant  march  of  five 
miles.  Turned  off  the  road  to  right  and  formed  line  of  battle, 
our  right  resting  on  —  —  Creek.  After  much  delay,  went 

into  camp — i6th  111.  on  our  left.  Hear  an  occasional  shot  on 
the  picket  line.  Supper.  Officers  fishing  in  stream  close  by. 
Fine  opportunity  for  bathing,  which  we  improve.  4th  A.  C. 


232  Recollections  of  Pioneer  and  .Inny  Life. 

went  into  camp  on  the  hills  to  our  front  and  left.  Col.  Waters, 
Adjt.  Casswell,  Prvt.  Drummond  and  others  of  the  84th  111. 
paid  us  a  visit. 

6th.  Bathe  at  sunrise — numbers  of  our  regiment  fishing 
this  morning.  Place  shade  over  tent  and  play  at  draughts. 
Officers  of  other  regiments  putting  their  companies  through 
the  skirmish  drill.  Capt.  Garternicht,  84th  111.,  took  dinner 
with  us.  3  P.  M.  received  orders  to  move  at  daylight  to-morrow. 

7th.  Breakfast  at  5  A.  M.  Broke  camp  and  moved  out 
on  Tunnel  Hill  road;  delay  at  Gen.  Morgan's  headquarters — 
halt  and  stack  arms.  Artillery  moves  out  in  advance.  Resume 
the  march.  Strike  the  enemy  at  6:30  A.  M.  Hot  skirmishing 
with  the  rebel  cavalry,  during  which  Gen  Palmer  and  staff 
ride  past  and  dismount  a  little  distance  off,  in  an  open  field, 
whence  they  observe  the  movements  on  the  front.  First  artillery 
shot  fired  at  9  o'clock,  rebels  give  way.  Reach  Tunnel  Hill — 
severe  skirmishing.  Our  artillery  opens — lines  mass  and  load 
— the  enemy  flanked  out  of  the  town.  Our  brigade  has  the  ad 
vance  through  the  place ;  gain  the  opposite  side  and  the  base  of 
Horn  Mountain.  Our  regiment  deployed  as  skirmishers  and 
advance  up  the  mountain-side — reach  the  summit,  finding  no 
enemy.  Regiment  assembled  on  the  summit.  After  the  lapse 
of  twenty  minutes,  saw  line  of  rebel  skirmishers  moving  by 
the  right  flank  along  the  valley  towards  the  Pass.  Heard  the 
shrill  notes  of  a  cock  at  a  farm-house  far  below  us  in  the 
valley.  Our  skirmishers  encircle  the  base  of  the  mountain 
looking  towards  the  Pass.  No  water  on  the  mountain — severe 
thirst.  Men  get  their  canteens  filled  with  great  difficulty  by 
descending  to  the  springs  and  streams  half-mile  distant.  Sun 
set — deepening  of  the  mist  over  the  valley.  Very  beautiful 
and  strange.  The  sighing  of  the  wind  through  the  pine  boughs. 
Thoughts  of  the  morrow ;  night ;  sleep. 

8th.  8  A.  M.  first  shot  fired  by  skirmishers.  Our  lines 
advance,  driving  the  enemy  back.  Our  skirmishers  move  from 
west  to  east.  The  crest  of  the  mountain  cleared  of  trees  and  a 
platform  erected  for  the  use  of  the  Signal  Corps.  Howard's 


Recollections  of  Pioneer  and  Army  Life.  233 

forces  (4th  A.  C.)  formed  line  of  battle ;  left  resting  below  us 
at  the  base  of  the  mountain;  the  right  extending  to  Rocky 
Face,  beyond  the  southern  limit  of  the  rebel  position.  Nothing 
came  of  this  movement.  At  I  P.  M.  Gen.  Sherman  and  staff 
appeared  among  us.  He  scanned  the  enemy's  position  with  his 
glass  closely.  Saw  on  crest  of  a  low  ridge  running  transverse 
ly  through  the  enemy's  lines  and  behind  them  what  seemed  to 
be  a  rebel  general  and  retinue.  Only  occasional  shots  this  P.  M. 
by  trie  skirmishers.  Our  general  seems  bent  on  a  thorough 
study  of  the  enemy's  works  before  he  moves  on  them.  See, 
miles  to  the  south,  the  dust  of  McPherson's  column  moving 
on  the  enemy's  flank,  in  the  direction  of  Snake  Creek  Gap. 

1 140  P.  M.  Company  B  sent  out  to  fill  gap  in  picket 
line.,  Good-looking,  stout,  medium-sized,  mustached  Gen.  But- 
terfield,  of  the  2Oth  A.  C.,  makes  his  appearance  among  us. 
Also  the  quiet,  observing,  one-armed,  gentlen  anly  Gen.  How 
ard.  The  three  generals  climb  up  on  a  large  stump,  interlock 
arms  to  steady  themselves,  smoke,  and  watch  the  enemy.  Gen. 
Sherman,  an  alert,  picturesque  man,  tall,  slender,  farmer-like 
in  his  demeanor,  with  large  lustrous  eyes,  and  a  cigar  in  his 
mouth,  keeps  up  a  "devil  of  a  thinking."  He  looks  at  the 
frowning  range  of  Rocky  Face,  studded  with  the  enemy's  bat 
teries,  and  anon  at  McPherson's  dust  miles  away. 

9th.  Left  camp  at  5:30  A.  M.  Reach  the  foothills  at  the 
base  of  Rocky  Face.  Form  line  of  battle.  Skirmishers  in  ad 
vance.  Move  forward  over  hills,  across  ravines,  filled  and 
covered  with  jungle  and  fallen  timber.  Heavy  forest  also, 
which  screened  us  from  the  rebel  sharpshooters,  else  many 
more  would  have  lost  their  lives.  After  advancing  a  consider 
able  distance,  we  were  halted.  Delay.  Moved  by  the  right 
flank  over  almost  impassable  ravines.  Weather  oppressively 
hot.  Halted  in  an  exposed  place,  where  Prvt.  Saunders,  of 
Company  I,  was  killed  at  the  distance  of  900  yards.  Shot 
through  the  head.  Crittenden  was  wounded  on  same  ground. 
Moved  by  right  flank  again,  and  took  up  new  position  under 
cover  of  a  steep  hill.  Put  out  more  companies  on  skirmish  line. 


234  Recollections  of  Pioneer  and  Army  Life. 

Severe  action  ensues.  Batteries  open  on  both  sides.  Rebel  bat 
teries  give  us  canister.  Adjt.  Wallace  Rice  displays  great  cool 
ness  under  lire.  Gen.  Morgan  spirited  anl  skillful.  Gens. 
Howard  and  Siierman  witness  the  action.  Night  settled  down 
before  we  were  drawn  off.  Brigade  lost  forty-three  killed  and 
wounded,  ooth  Ills,  lost  heavily  as  skirmishers.  At  dusk  ran 
gauntlet  of  enemy's  balls  while  going  to  rear  to  get  a  drink  of 
water.  The  scene  to-day  at  times  was  truly  magnificent.  The 
glaring  wall  of  Rocky  Face  Mountain,  the  enemy  posted  on 
and  firing  down  on  us  from  the  overhanging  cliffs,  made  a 
striking  picture ! 

loth.  Stood  to  arms  at  4  A.  M  Stacke  ]  guns  after  some 
delay.  Breakfast  at  6  A.  M.  Dispatch  from  Army  of  Potomac 
received  and  shouted  to.  Artillery  passing  along  the  valley  in 
our  rear  fired  on  by  the  enemy  posted  on  the  mountain-top. 
Disabled  some  of  the  horses.  Confusion.  Get  off.  Battery 
planted  on  our  front  this  morning.  Rebels  shell  us.  Fierce 
artillery  duel  to  our  right.  Received  mail  Boys  increase  the 
size  of  their  cartridges  to  throw  their  balls  to  the  top  of  Rocky 
Face.  Nonsense !  Left  the  front  of  Rocky  Face  at  5  130  p.  MV 
relieved  by  McCook's  (3d)  brigade. 

The  following  inscription,  carved  by  a  rebel,  we  found  on 
the  head-board  of  an  orderly  sergeant  of  the  loth  Mich,  kill 
ed  on  this  ground  in  February  last :  "Let  God  judge  between 
us;  zvhich  is  right,  which  wrong." 

nth.  12  M.  Holding  ourselves  in  readu-ess  to  march  to 
McPherson's  aid  below  Dalton.  Capts.  Garternicht  and  Mc- 
Gaw,  of  the  84th,  with  us.  2  p.  M.  Drizzling  rain.  5  p.  M. 
Orders  received  to  march  at  6  to-morrow. 

I2th.  Marching  south,  6:30  halt  and  stack  arms.  Corn 
in  the  fields  2  inches  high.  March  rapidly  along.  Reach  Snake 
Creek  Gap.  Overtake  isth  A.  C.  train  Delay  Halt  one 
hour  for  supper.  Night.  Push  on.  Dvr-adful  marching 
through  the  mud  and  darkness;  go  into  carrj'  at  12  midnight. 

I3th..  5:30  pass  portion  of  2Oth  A.  C.  Gen.  Hooker 
passes.  He  talks  with  Gen.  Knight  We  halt  on  side-hill  to 


Recollections  of  Pioneer  and  Army  Life.  235 

left  of  road  behind  earthworks  v,  Hch  stretch  across  mouth 
of  Gap.  Stack  arms.  Artillery  passing  to  the  front.  .Gen 
erals  with  body-guards  pass.  Gen.  Thomas  comes  into  the  road 
from  our  rear,  looking  splendid.  Rapidly  and  silently,  dense 
masses  of  troops  move  out  in  the  direction  of  Resaca.  Ord 
nance  trains  and  ambulances  follow.  We  were  the  last  out. 
Left  at  3  130.  4  p.  M.  Artillery  opens.  Our  forces  invest  the  en 
emy's  works  at  Resaca.  We  move  up  and  vest 'on  our  arms 
in  rear  of  the  line  of  battle.  Hot  musketry  firing. 

I4th.  6  A.  M.  Our  division  moved  forward  into  open 
fields  to  rear  and  left  of  Gen.  Johnson's  first  division ;  massed 
and  stacked  arms.  Gens.  Morgan  and  Jeff  C.  Davis  lying  on 
plowed  ground,  consulting  their  map.  Dispatch  of  .Grant's 
victory  received  and  cheered. 

1  P.  M.   Johnson  heavily  engaged.    We  move  close  to  his 
support.    Johnson  makes  a  charge.    Only  partially  successful. 
Wounded  being  borne  to  the  rear.    Ammunition  to  the  front. 
Musicians  gathering  leaves  and  boughs  for  the  wounded  to 
rest  upon.    4th  A.  C.  on  our  left.    84th  Ills,  there.    Geo.  Cow- 
den  wounded.     Rumor  from  the  36th  Ills,  that  John  Porter, 
first  sergeant,  disabled  by  a  falling  limb,  broken  off  by  a  cannon 
shot,  struck  on  the  head,  severely  hurt.     2Oth  A.  C.  passing 
along  our  rear  to  the  left.   Night.  Lie  down  on  pallet  of  straw. 
Just  dropping  asleep  when  we  were  aroused  by :    "Get  out  of 
your  nest,  going  to  move!"    Draw  on  boots  and  speculate  as 
to  "what  is  up."     Move  to  right  and  fill  trenches  vacated  by 
2Oth  A.  C.    Got  into  position  at  midnight. 

1 5th.    Skirmishing  on  our  front. 

10  A.  M.  Gen.  Davis  passed  along.  Tells  the  boys  to  de 
scend  the  hill  in  front  and  try  their  hand  on  the  rebel  pickets 
just  across  the  field.  Half  a  dozen  go  down.  All  return  un 
hurt  after  amusing  themselves  as  much  as  they  wished ! 

12  M.  Heavy  firing  on  our  left.  The  battle  is  on!  No 
genuine  fighting  on  our  own  front. 

2  P.  M.    Adjt.  Rice  struck  by  an  enemy's  ball  in  the  hip. 
Borne  instantly  to  the  field  hospital.     He  was  reclining  at  the 


236  Recollections  of  Pioneer  and  Army  Life. 

foot  of  a  large  oak  tree  (we  were  all  idle  at  the  time),  his  pen 
cil  in  his  hand,  tracing  lines  on  the  palm  of  his  hand  and 
chatting  with  Lieuts.  Carr  and  Boughman.  The  ball  was 
from  a  sharpshooter's  gun  and  came  a  long  distance,  but  with 
full  force,  striking  him  in  the  hip  and  coursing  up,  it  is  be 
lieved  into  the  viscera.  The  pencil  dropped  from  his  fingers 
and  he  exclaimed:  "O  God!  I  am  struck,"  and  attempted 
involuntarily  to  rise;  failed;  asked  help  and  received  assist 
ance  from  Lieut.  Carr.  A  stretcher  was  called,  and  he  was 
placed  on  it,  quite  pale.  He  then  asked  for  his  pencil  and  said 
he  thought  he  was  not  badly  hurt.  His  quivering  lips,  how 
ever,  showed  his  mental  agitation.  We  never  saw  him  again. 

6:35  P.  M.  Benj.  F.  Bennett,  of  Company  G,  wounded  in 
right  leg. 

Night.  Talking  with  the  rebel  pickets  Our  boys  want 
to  know  "when  they  are  going  to  evacuate." 

ii  o'clock.  Heavy  discharges  of  artillery,  accompanied 
by  cheers  and  a  false  charge  of  the  enemy.  Our  boys  were 
wide  awake  to  welcome  them! 

i6th.  Enemy  gone;  heavy  firing  at  a  distance;  can 
nonading  with  McPherson.  Move  out  from  entrenchments. 
Receive  mail.  Meet  loth  Mich,  just  returned  from  veteran 
furlough.  Return  to  the  mouth  of  Snake  Creek  Gap.  Take 
up  our  knapsacks,  camp  equipage  and  baggage  train  and  push 
south  on  the  Rome  road,  preceded  by  Garrard's  cavalry. 
Passed  some  fine  plantations. 

Night.  Camped  in  pine  grove.  Our  division  detached 
for  this  flank  movement. 

iyth.     Rear  guard  to-day.     Marched  to  Armuchee  Creek. 

2 130  P.  M.  Rain — coffee — cigars— fight  here  between  rebel 
rear  guard  under  Jackson  and  Kilpatrick. 

3:30  P.  M.  "E"  and  "K"  go  on  picket — Simon  for  guide. 
Grave  of  rebel  in  fence-corner.  I  took  2d  platoon  of  "E" 
and  advanced  them  as  skirmishers  as  far  as  Dr.  Jones'  Mill 
and  posted  pickets.  Factory  half  mile  to  our  right — boys  get 
tobacco  there.  Dr.  Jones  and  his  slave  brought  his  boat  over 


Recollections  of  Pioneer  and  Army  Life.  237 

and  took  us  across.  At  his  house  we  got  milk  and  bread  and 
found  a  rebel  soldier  at  home.  Posted  pickets  to  cover  ap 
proach  to  the  mill.  I  discovered  three  of  our  boys  with  a 
pig  half  butchered! 

i8th.  Broke  camp  at  i  p.  M. — rebel  cavalry  on  our 
front — move  out  on  Rome  road — rear  guard  to  piece  of  train 
following  troops  to  Rome — reached  town  in  the  evening — 
shown  on  the  way  here  the  ground  where  Col.  Straight  and 
his  forces  were  captured.  Gen.  Baird  shows  us  our  camping- 
ground. 

Night — sore  feet.  Our  advance  had  a  hot  skirmish  here 
with  rebel  cavalry  last  evening;  captured  some  prisoners. 

1 9th.  Boys  bringing  in  immense  quantities  of  tobacco. 
Rebel  cavalry  hovering  around  on  the  opposite  shore  of  the 
Coosa.  Our  pickets  exchange  shots  with  them.  Issue  27  bales 
smoking  tobacco  to  regiment.  Visit  Shelter's  residence.  Mc- 
Cook  marches  into  town.  Rebel  cavalry  talking  to  our  boys — 
they  kill  a  citizen. 

2oth.  Rome — visit  town  with  Maj.  Wilson  and  Lieut. 
Walcott.  Church — preacher's  notes — they  are  of  the  "fire- 
eating"  character;  "The  chivalry  God's  chosen  people,"  etc. 
Madam  Lumkins — Dick  W.  plays  on  the  piano — the  widow 
talks  of  her  daughter  at  a  monastery  in  N.  C.,  pursuing  her 
studies — portrait  of  her  son  in  the  Army — portrait  of  "the 
Doctor" — lithograph  of  Mrs.  Howell  Cobb — the  flower  garden. 

In  the  capture  of  this  town  we  have  secured  the  most 
important  point  between  Chattanooga  and  Atlanta.  We  have 
possession  of  the  foundries,  machine  shops  and  other  expen 
sive  appliances  for  casting  shell  and  the  manufacture  of  similar 
war  material — these  we  destroyed. 

2ist.  Shorter's  residence  again — talk  with  slave — Addi- 
son's  works.  This  mansion  is  the  property  of  a  very  wealthy 
citizen.  The  rooms  were  richly  furnished,  which  our  soldiers 
defaced — the  ruin  was  complete  when  we  visited  them. 

22d.  Broke  camp  at  7  A.  M.  Marched  to  pontoon  bridge 
and  halt — delay.  Village  bells  ringing  for  church — the  sound 


238  Recollections  of  Pioneer  and  Army  Life. 

comes  strangely  sweet  to  us !  Move  forward  across  Oostariaula 
River  into  town — through  it  to  the  shores  of  the  Etowah — • 
troops  put  across  in  detached  pontoons,  rowed.  Move  out  on 
the  Vaughn's  valley  road  one  mile  and  camp.  Creek  half  mile 
to  left  of  camp  and  large  flour  mill,  where  we  bathe. 

23d.  Part  of  i6th  A.  C.  arrived — Col.  Bain,  5oth  111. 
Doc.  McMaury — strawberries! 

24th.  Broke  camp  at  5  A.  M.  Two  miles  out  on'  road 
two  rebel  deserters  surrender. 

Blowing  a  hurricane  this  P.  M. — marched  thirteen  miles 
and  rested  two  hours.  Lieut.  Winsett  had  hilt  of  sword  shot 
•off — accident.  Resumed  the  march  blinded  with  dust.  Halt 
at  —  — .  Springs;  mass;  stack  arms  and  camp. 

Night.  Violent  thunder-storm — torrents  of  rain — slept 
in  an  old  cabin  with  Col.  Tillson,  Maj.  Sam.  W.  and  Lt.  Tate. 
These  springs  are  beautiful — water  clear  and  cold,  flowing  in 
several  little  channels  from  the  fissured  rock.  i5th  A.  C.  in 
camp  near  by. 

25th.  Drying  blankets — broke  camp  after  some  delay 
and  took  a  dim  road  leading  over  pine  ridges,  uninhabited 
save  by  the  poorest  class  of  "white  trash."  Brick  residence 
before  striking  the  hills — piano.  Acting  Adjt.  Tate  warns  us 
to  be  chary  of  the  water  in  our  canteens,  as  none  can  be  had 
for  several  miles.  Surgeon  Reeder  riding  a  mule — boys  guy 
him — he  threatens  to  shoot — he  is  known  as  the  "blacksmith." 
Evidence  in  the  woods  of  tornadoes.  Halt  on  hillside  for 
dinner — rattlesnakes !  Sunset — column  winding  slowly  through 
the  desolate  hills — distant  boom  of  cannon — storm — night — 
camp — raining  furiously.  Sleep  on  a  sand-bar  in  the  midst 
of  a  swamp,  four  miles  from  Dallas. 

26th.  Broke  camp  at  daylight — slow  progress — bad  roads, 
hills — 2oth  A.  C.  ahead — on  wrong  road — countermarch — take 
road  to  Dallas.  Pumpkin  Vine  Creek — deploy  skirmishers — 
Gen.  Thomas  Adjt.-Gen'l — Brig.-Gen.  Whipple  our  guide — 
bridge — ascend  hills — meet  boy  of  i6th  111.  returning  home; 
term  of  enlistment  expired.  Reach  Dallas.  Our  skirmishers 


Recollections  of  Pioneer  and  Army  Life.  239 

drive  rebs  out  and  back  upon  the  hills  beyond.  i5th  A.  C. 
on  our  right.  In  town — woman  takes  Gen.  Morgan  for  a 
"Sub"  and  asks  him  for  coffee!  Minister  and  family — woman 
frightened.  Boys  found  a  petition  of  the  citizens  of  this, 
Paulding  County,  praying  Jeff.  Davis  to  exempt  them  from 
the  coming  conscription,  as  their  aggregate  is  only  1,000  and 
they  had  already  furnished  900  men  for  the  war;  that  if 
their  prayer  was  not  granted,  many  women  and  children  must 
starve;  as  it  is  now,  many  families  found  it  difficult  to  subsist 
themselves — there  were  none  left  to  harvest  the  crops.  12 5th 
111.,  McCook's  brigade,  lost  fourteen  men,  including  a  lieu 
tenant,  on  picket-line,  at  night.  The  enemy's  cavalry  vi- 
dettes  made  a  sneak  on  their  .outposts.  A  coincidence,  that 
in  the  mix-up  in  the  darkness  our  boys  captured  fourteen 
men  and  a  lieutenant  as  an  equivalent. 

2yth.  Heavy  firing  on  picket-line — cannonading  to  left 
and  right — suddenly  leave  camp — move  to  front — halt  under 
hill — skirmishers  on  our  right  advance — prisoners  taken — one 
of  "G"  slightly  wounded.  Received  mail.  Moved  forward 
again  in  echelon — halt  in  woods — occasional  shots  chipping 
trees  near  us.  i6th  111.  on  our  left.  Anderson  of  "B"  and 
Coppage  of  "G"  brought  in  wounded  off  skirmish-line;  the* 
first  in  arm,  second  through  abdomen.  P.  M.  Coppage  dead. 
One  company  of  6oth  111.  sent  out  on  our  front — rapid  shots 
on  picket-line — S.  of  "B"  mortally  wounded.  Five  wounded 
to-day;  many  narrow  escapes,  as  the  enemy's  balls  fell  among 
us  all  day. 

28th.  Heavy  cannonading  on  our  left  and  continuous 
firing  on  our  picket-line — prisoners  taken;  some  of  them 
wounded — enemy  shell  us.  i  '.30  P.  M.  Form  line,  expecting 
to  be  attacked. 

5  P.  M.  Rebs  charging  the  i5th  A.  C.  on  our  right — • 
artillery  and  musketry — we  spring  to  our  arms.  Heard  from 
Wallace  Rice  to-day.  Logan  repulsed  the  enemy  with  severe 
loss.  Stood  to  arms  all  night. 

i.i  o'clock  enemy  again  charges  our  lines — repulsed.     The 


240  Recollections  of  Pioneer  and  Army  Life. 

fire  of  our  artillery  terrible.  Rebel  prisoners  tell  us  their  gen 
erals  told  them  that  they  would  break  through  our  lines  and 
push  for  Chattanooga!  The  enemy  has  extensive  field-works 
along  a  range  of  high  hills. 

29th.  Two  years  ago  this  morning  Beauregard  evacu 
ated  Corinth,  Miss.  Our  pickets  swear  they  saw  a  woman 
shooting  at  them  to-day  1  All  quiet,  save  slight  picket-firing. 
One  of  "G"  wounded.  Night.  Rebs  again  attempt  to  charge 
our  lines  on  our  left — repulsed  as  usual. 

30th.  Occasional  shots  on  the  picket -line — "Doctor  John" 
and  "Put"  visitors.  Man  in  "G"  had  his  pipe  knocked  out 
of  his  mouth,  and  a  piece  taken  out  of  his  chin  by  a  rebel 
Minie-ball.  Threw  up  breastworks.  Man  in  "I"  wounded. 
"E"  on  picket  this  eve.  In  pit  with  Andy  Fuller,  Simons 
and  Hartley — close  shooting  by  rebels — 35th  New  Jersey  on 
our  right — many  of  them  wounded.  Some  men  very  care 
less — lying  out  asleep  apparently  in  full  view  of  rebel  sharp 
shooters.  Dead  rebels  between  the  picket-lines,  killed  on  the 
day  of  our  arrival. 

3ist.  Zouaves — 35th  N.  J.  still  with  us.  Enemy  erect 
a^new  battery  opposite  the  left  of  our  brigade,  on  a  high  hill, 
andk  shell  the  i6th  111.,  wounding  one  man.  Gen.  Sweeny  at 
tacked  the  enemy  at  i  P.  M.  "E"  relieved  this  eve  from 
picket-line — returned  to  camp  with  no  casualties.  Night. 
Received  orders  to  move  at  daylight. 

June  ist.  Best  sleep  in  four  nights.  Delay  in  moving. 
Godden  shoots  his  finger  off  purposely!  Rebs  evacuate,  leav 
ing  a  line  of  observation.  We  shift  position — rebel  skirmishers 
follow  us  a  short  distance — driven  back — intensely  hot.  Move 
to  the  left.  Hear  that  rebel  cavalry  are  in  our  old  camps  at 
Dallas.  Long  maf|rch  to  extreme  left  of  line  of  battle — pass 
line  of  ambulances  on  Marietta  road  and  drove  of  beef  cattle. 
Forage  going  to  the  front — hospitals  filled  with  wounded — 
graves — strike  our  troops — move  to  the  left  and  rear  of  4th 
A.  C.  Artillery  packed  in  ravines — cattle  shambles.  Move 
to  the  front — great  caution  in  getting  into  line,  which  we 


Recollections  of  Pioneer  and  Army  Life.  241 

accomplished  after  considerable  delay — the  filth  encountered 
heref  Crept  into  our  blankets  at  midnight. 

2d.  Get  tools  of  Col.  Gross  and  erect  breastworks.  Go 
to  the  front  and  take  a  view  of  rebel  works — shown  the  ground 
over  which  our  forces  charged  yesterday — Cousin  H.  wounded 
here  Rainstorm — lasted  all  day — Water  filled  trenches. 

jd.  Picket-firing.  Boys  of  84th  111.  visit  us.  The  ruse 
by  Gen.  Stanley — failed — rebs  didn't  bite.  Raining — received 
recruit  to-day,  Warren  Frazell — "came  down  to  see  how  he 
would  like  it." 

4th.  Gen.  Davis  sick — Gen.  Morgan  commands  division; 
Col.  Lum  the  brigade.  We  leave  intrenchments ;  file  along 
the  rear  of  the  line  to  the  left  two  miles — past  Gen.  Thomas' 
and  Gen.  Wood's  headquarters.  Halt  at  12  M.  in  rear  of  lines 
and  to  left  of  ist  Division,  Gen.  Johnson  commanding.  i6th 
111.  and  14  th  Mich,  go  to  trenches  and  relieve  troops  of  23d  A.  C. 

5th.  Raining — rebels  evacuated — Sky  clears — read  and 
and  pass  the  day  listlessly.  Thompson,  Colonel's  hostler,  takes 
animals  out  to  graze — horses  captured — man  of  "K,"  a  com 
panion  of  T.'s,  reported  killed.  Gen.  Palmer  and  staff — the 
former  very  talkative. 

6th.  Break  camp  and  follow  the  enemy — firing  ahead 
at  12  M.  Peter  Tait,  an  old  college  friend,  comes  to  me  as 
we  move  upon  the  road.  Roads  miry — prisoners — country 
church — rebel  works — 4th  A.  C.  headquarters — Gen.  Howard — 
stragglers  with  rails  on  shoulders  in  single  file,  marching  in  a 
circle.  Camp  on  grassy  spot — intrench. 

yth.  Mail  to-day — papers — Baltimore  Convention.  Un 
cle  Abe's  renomination.  Philadelphia  Fair.  A  warm,  sunny 
morning — encamped  on  a  rebel  farm — beautifully  growing 
wheat — hillside  covered  with  dewberries — apples  in  the  or 
chard — honey  in  the  hives.  Boys  cleaning  up — Negroes  wash 
ing  clothes.  Lieut.  Worrell  and  Doctor  Dave  McDill  visit 
us.  Gentle  spring  shower  this  P.  M.  How  the  grass  revives 
under  the  moisture !  Plaindealers  received — contain  circular  of 
"Copperheads'  Wolf  Hunt."  Dam  socks. 


242  Recollections  of  Pioneer  and  Army  Life. 

[Mem. — The  "Copperhead  wolf  hunt"  was  a  prearranged 
pretext  for  a  political  meeting  of  Henderson  County  Confed 
erates  where  Bill  Hanna  could  discipline  "the  forces."] 

8th.  Reading  Hawthorne  and  Wordsworth.  Hear  three 
volleys  fired  over  the  grave  of  a  dead  soldier  of  the  i4th  Mich. 
Night — light  shower — brigade  band — Gen.  Sherman's  order  on 
straggling. 

9th.  Orders  to  march  at  6  A.  M.;  countermanded.  Other 
troops  moving.  Rumors  of  flag  of  truce. 

There  are  a  hundred  thousand  of  us:  the  infantry,  the 
cavalry;  the  artillery  and  trains;  the  ambulances  and  the 
signal  corps;  the  furled  guidons  and  the  faded  banners.  And 
we  lay  in  our  blankets  in  the  silver  moonlight  in  the  mount 
ains  of  Georgia;  the  foe  close  at  hand  and  the  dead  between 
the  lines.  Sleepless,  but  resting  at  ease  in  my  blanket,  I  lie 
and  look  around  upon  the  champing  horses;  the  batteries; 
the  billowy  forms  asleep  around ;  the  moonlight  pouring  down — 
the  gray,  brilliant  moonlight,  glittering  like  the  jeweled  bosom 
of  a  queen.  We  are  here  on  our  way  to  Atlanta  and  the  sea — 
from  Island  No.  10  and  Belmont;  from  Donelson  and  Shiloh; 
from  Corinth  and  Stone  River;  from  Chickamauga  and  Mission 
Ridge;  from  Fair  Oaks  and  Malvern  Hill;  from  Fredericks- 
burg  and  Chan  cello  rsville.  'Tis  the  early  summer  of  1864, 
and  we  are  on  our  way  home  via  Savannah  and  the  Carolinas 
and  Washington.  Many  of  the  lads  will  never  see  home  again, 
but  we  will  do  the  best  we  can  as  to  that! 

loth.  Broke  camp  at  5  A.  M.  Move  out  into  field  along 
roadside  and  halt  while  3d  Brigade  moves  in  advance,  fol 
lowed  by  2d  Brigade.  Col.  Mitchell— rainstorm — troops  mov 
ing  to  north  and  east.  Move  forward— halt  while  I5th  A.  C. 
passes  us,  or,  rather,  crosses  our  path.  Another  beating  rain 
shower— up  to  knees  in  fflud.  Roads  horrible  for  our  trains 
and  artillery. 

3  p.  M.  Skirmishers  engaged — our  battery  opens — halt 
and  form  line  of  battle  parallel  and  confronting  rebel  works. 
Sky  clears — evening — brigade  band:  "When  This  Cruel  War 


Recollections  of  Pioneer  and  Army  Life.  243 

Is  Over."  4th  A.  C.  in  rear.  Clearing  away  trees  to  give  our 
battery  range.  Adjutant  James  Allen  has  just  received  a  note 
from  Wallace  Rice,  dated  in  hospital,  near  Chattanooga,  on 
the  yth,  in  which  he  says:  "I  have  been  very  bad  from  get 
ting  erysipelas  (gangrene)  in  my  wound.  Have  suffered — oh, 
so  much!  and  am  writing  this  in  much  pain." 

nth.  Misty  this  morning — shots  on  the  picket-line — 
rumor  that  the  enemy  would  attack.  Raining — Gen.  Baird 
on  our  left  Troops  getting  ragged — clothes  much  worn — 
holes  in  hat-crowns  patched  with  bits  of  blue  cloth  the  size 
of  one's  hand.  Cloudy  and  dismal.  Muddy  stream — bivouac — 
Gen  Johnson  rides  past.  Carries  a  cane  instead  of  a  sword! 
Gray  beard;  dark  eyes;  above  the  medium  size;  pleasant- 
looking.  Artillery  shots — skirmishers — cars — whistle  of  loco 
motive — the  engine  keeps  close  on  the  heels  of  the  skirmish 
ers — cracker-line  perfect!  Cutting  away  timber  for  batteries. 

1 3th.  Raining.  Go  on  picket  at  7 — boys  fall  into  creek. 
Brigade  has  orders  to  move — two  companies  sent  to  front — 
dinner — artillery  opens  on  our  left. 

4  P.  M.  Push  line  forward.  Gens.  Davis  and  Thomas— 
Kenesaw  Mountain  in  full  view  to  front  and  left.  Clear  our 
front  of  the  enemy's  pickets.  Night;  stars;  crescent. 

i4th.  Clear  and  beautiful.  Gen.  Morgan  and  relief.  Mail 
and  breakfast.  Read  in  Plaindealer  of  money  being  sub 
scribed  as  a  bonus  to  induce  men  to  go  into  the  "  100  days" 
service ! 

9:20.  Move  to  the  front — light  marching  order — left  in 
front,  close  column  by  divisions — prisoners  going  to  the  rear — 
wounded  passing  back.  Advance  and  throw  up  breastworks. 
Dinner — Gens.  Thomas,  Whipple,  Palmer,  Davis,  King  and 
others.  Cannonading  to  left.  Skirmishers  advance  under  or 
ders  from  Gen.  Morgan  to  go  to  top  of  hill  and  halt.  Com 
panies  "G"  and  "K"  sent  out  to  strengthen  the  line.  Gen 
erals  repass — battery  on  our  right  opens — mail — moved  to 
left— Johnson's  division  fills  the  works  we  vacate.  Camp  in 
woods  close  column  by  divisions.  Rebel  signal  station  detected 


^44  Recollections  of  Pioneer  and  Army  Life. 

sending  a  dispatch  which  asserted  that  the  rebel  Gen.  Polk 
was  killed  to-day  by  a  shot  from  one  of  our  batteries.  Night, 
bands  playing  national  airs — we  intrench. 

1 5th.  Under  arms  at  daylight — felling  trees  for  breast 
works — weather  clear  and  beautiful.  Shots  on  the  picket-line 
intermingled  with  shots  at  intervals  from  our  battery  on  the 
right.  Four  companies  sent  out  as  pickets. 

12  M.  Gen.  Sherman  and  staff  pass  along  the  lines. 
Heavy  skirmishing  on  our  left — i6th  A.  C.  advancing  their 
picket-line.  Sixty  prisoners  taken  in  this  advance.  Tobacco 
scarce — not  to  be  had  for  love  or  money.  "Chokem"  says: 
"  I  '11  fight  any  man  in  the  brigade  for  one  pound  of  the  weed.' ' 

1 6th.  Clear  and  beautiful — right  advances,  encircling 
Kenesaw.  Shots  on  the  picket-line.  Barnett's  Battery  wakes 
up  a  rebel  battery  on  the  mountain.  Heavy  artillery  firing 
on  our  left.  Received  orders  at  i  p.  M.  to  hold  ourselves  in 
readiness  to  move  at  a  moment's  warning — light  marching 
order — picket-line  strengthened.  Johnson  is  supposed  to  be 
making  preparations  for  attacking  us — we  are  prepared. 

2  '.30  P.  M.  Parrotts  coming  up.  Mail  this  P.  M.  Group 
of  generals  in  angle  of  works  at  house  on  our  right  at  5  p.  M. — 
Sherman,  Thomas,  Palmer,  Davis  and  others.  From  this 
point  can  see  on  summit  of  mountain  rebel  signal  station, 
also  horsemen  and  infantry. 

iyth.  Brisk  skirmishing  on  our  left — rumor  of  prisoners 
being  taken.  8  A.  M.  Orders  received  to  hold  ourselves  in 
readiness  to  move  at  any  moment. 

p.  M. — Visit  picket-line — Negro  huts — slaves — I4th  Mich. 
Reserve — skirmishers  advance — flank  rebel  line  and  capture 
a  squad  of  prisoners — a  major  among  them.  Our  loss  three 
wounded.  4:30  p.  M.  Enemy  attempts  to  recover  his  lost 
ground — repulsed.  Our  boys  cheer.  Light  rain  falling — put 
up  tents.  At  dusk  the  picket-firing  grows  more  spiteful. 
Artillery  opens  on  our  right.  "Put"  tells  of  "Dad  Hand" 
dancing  for  "a  chaw  tu-backer."  Night — Gen.  Palmer  says 
main  body  of  rebs  ten  miles  distant — doubtful.  The  General 


Recollections  of  Pioneer  and  Army  Life.  245 

in  a  jocular  vein — "Don't  blame  a  man  for  getting  behind  a 
tree,"  he  would  do  the  same.  "Want  anything  rash  drr^-, 
call  on  new  troops — old  soldiers  too  sharp." 

i8th  R  alning — gloomy — swamps  on  our  front  — batteries 
on  our  right  moving — our  line  advances  half  mile  and  throws 
up  breastworks. 

19th.  Bugles  rouse  us  before  day — brigade  band — "Old 
Hundred."  Light  firing  on  picket-line.  Rebs  evacuate — their 
pickets  driven  away.  Mrve  forward  half  mile  and  halt  at 
cross-roads.  One  sectk  u  of  Barnett's  Battery  goes  to  the 
front.  Gen.  Whipple  passes  to  front.  Col.  Dan  McCook — 
a  medium-sized,  wiry  fellow.  Col.  Mitchell  a  1itti*\  fancy  man. 
They  chat  together — three  reb  pn  ^ners  pass  to  rear — Col  . 
McC.  talks  to  them.  FirH  tvat  enemy  had  only  contracted 
his  lines — "the  apex  on  Kenesaw,  hib  flanks  resting  on  Noon 
day  (?)  and  Moses  Creeks."  Our  battery  (26.  Minn.)  shelling 
the  sides  of  the  mountain.  Rebels  on  the  summit  looking 
down  on  us  as  we  approach.  Our  skirmishers  take  a  few 
prisoners  and  one  of  the  enemy's  ambulances.  Pass  two  lines 
of  strong  rebel  rifle-pits  and  continuous  works  which  the  enemy 
had  abandoned,  and  halt  on  his  last  and  heaviest  works,  which 
were  ten  feet  in  depth,  platformed  for  guns  and  bushed  to 
secrete  them.  1 1  A.  M.  Gen.  Sherman  walks  along  the  de 
serted  works  where  we  are  resting,  gazing  at  the  mountain; 
lines  of  battle  and  skirmishers  advancing  on  our  left — drench 
ing  rain.  12  M.  Move  to  the  front  and  form  line  of  battle — 
move  by  the  left  flank,  obliquing  toward  the  mountain,  and 
form  another  line  of  battle.  Our  batteries  fire  over  our  heads 
at  the  mountain. 

3:30  P.  M.  Reb  sharpshooters  discover  us  in  the  bushes. 
Del.  Esterbrook,  "H,"  wounded  in  tip  of  shoulder;  ball  goes 
on  and  pierces  a  canteen  and  tears  a  man's  pocket  out.  Shots 
getting  more  frequent — sky  darkening — strong  tokens  of  rain. 
4  P.  M.  Captain  6oth  111.  wounded  in  the  head— mortally. 
Hear  of  the  death  of  Adjt.  Rice — unexpected — shocked — 
profound  sorrow. 


24^  Recollections  of  Pioneer  and  Army  Life. 

2oth.  Built  breastworks- — rebel  sharpshooters  trouble  us. 
Cyrus  Chapin  shot  through  the  wrist.  Our  batteries  open. 
12  M.  shell  from  our  battery  bursts  prematurely;  pieces  fall 
among  us.  Gen.  Morgan  views  the  enemy's  position — talks 
with  us.  Pieces  of  shell  falling  around. 

4:30  P.  M.  Attack  on  right.  Our  batteries  open  on 
mountain — supper.  Two  of  loth  111.  wounded,  Cos.  "I"  and 
"F";  leg  and  breast — latter  died.  Also  one  of  loth  Mich. 
Regiment  moves  to  the  front  for  picket — reserve  in  ravine — 
night — raining. 

2ist.  Sergt.-Maj.  Chas.  B.  Simpson  hit  in  the  scalp. 
Gave  him  a  bad  headache!  4th  Miss,  and  i25th  111.  talking 
across  picket -line — exchange  tobacco  for  coffee. 

22d.  Reb  batteries  shell  our  camp.  Dan  Parker  chews, 
dries  and  smokes  the  same  quid.  Rebel  guns  open  on  us — 
two  killed J  Several  wounded  on  our  right.  Women  reported 
near  the  rebel  batteries  on  the  mountain-top.  Cannonading 
to  our  right.  12  midnight.  Rebel  batteries  open  on  us;  this 
supposed  to  cover  the  removal  of  their  artillery.  Orders  to 
march — countermanded — build  breastworks. 

23d.  Rebel  artillery  opens  to  the  right  and  left  of  us. 
Twelve  pieces  in  rear  of  our  brigade  open  and  silence  rebel 
batteries — exciting  scenes — splendid  shots  by  our  gunners. 
Our  batteries  to  right — 4th  A.  C. — open  terrific  fire  on  right 
of  mountain.  Another  duel  between  battery  in  rear  of  brig 
ade  and  rebel  guns — magnificent — our  guns  victorious — tre 
mendous  cheering  by  our  boys.  Cannonading  still  going  on 
to  our  right.  Last  night  rebel  pickets  attempt  a  surprise — 
our  men  on  the  alert,  and  drive  them  100  yards  to  rear  of 
their  former  line. 

24th.  Robt.  Graham  gone  home — time  expired.  One  of 
"C"  wounded  in  thigh. 

25th.  Artist  sketches  Kenesaw.  10:30  A.  M.  Rebel  bat 
teries  open.  Boys  repair  to  trenches — terrific  artillery  duel; 
engagement  lasted  one  hour,  neither  side  gaining  any  advantage. 


Recollections  of  Pioneer  and  Army  Life.  247 

2  130  P.  M.  Rebel  batteries  open  again — they  challenge 
with  a  volley  of  six  guns.  Our  batteries  reply  and  drive  rebel 
gunners  from  their  pieces.  Our  guns  had  effective  range — 
engagement  lasted  half  an  hour — our  guns  continue  to  fire — 
enemy  unable  to  respond.  With  a  glass  can  see  the  effect  of 
all  our  shots  as  they  are  fired. 

4  P.  M.  Rebel  batteries  open  again — intense  excitement. 
Shells  of  contending  batteries  pass  directly  over  our  heads. 
Our  batteries  reply.  Action  renewed  with  increased  fury. 
Enemy  directs  some  of  his  pieces  on  our  camp.  Capt.  Car 
penter's  right-hand  fingers  torn  off  by  piece  of  shell.  Tops 
of  trees  cut  off  by  shell  and  fell  with  a  crash  among  us.  Mail — • 
orders  to  move  at  nightfall.  Our  division  relieved  before 
Kenesaw  at  midnight. 

26th.  Move  along  the  rear  of  our  line  of  works  a  distance 
of  four  miles  and  mass  in  rear  of  Gen.  Stanley's  division,  4th 
A.  C.  Had  a  tedious  night  march  of  it,  getting  into  camp  at 
6  A.  M.  Breakfast.  Clear  and  breezy  to-day.  Prisoners  go 
ing  to  rear.  Hear  the  "halloo"  of  a  voice  almost  superhuman — 
attracts  the  attention  and  suspicion  of  many.  Gen.  Morgan 
thinks  it  the  warning  of  a  spy. 

"Stick"  Carl,  Capt.  McGaw,  Adjt.  Caswell,  Surgeon  Mc- 
Dill,  of  the  84th,  and  Lieut.  Worrell,  of  the  y8th  111.,  call. 
Hooker  on  our  right. 

27th.  Roused  at  3  o'clock  A.  M.  with  orders  to  move  at 
daylight,  light  marching  order.  Movement  delayed — left  camp 
at  6:30 — observe  Gens.  Howard  and  Palmer  riding  past — no 
tice  something  unusual  in  the  face  of  the  latter,  deeply  flushed. 
Is  there  a  fight  on  hand?  Heavy  cannonading  to  left.  File 
into  a  line  of  works  at  the  front  with  great  caution — muskets 
brought  to  the  trail  to  prevent  the  gleam  of  the  barrels  being 
seen.  Run  a  gauntlet  of  rebel  sharpshooters  for  quarter  of 
mile — reach  advance  of  breastworks  with  loss  of  one  killed 
and  four  wounded.  Relieved  2ist  Ky.  Mitchell's,  Dan  Mc- 
Cook's  and  Gen.  Harmon's  brigades  charge  the  rebel  works- 
advanced  in  silence.  Hooker's  skirmishers  on  our  right, ad- 


248  Recollections  of  Pioneer  and  Army  Life. 

vance  upon  the  enemy  simultaneously  with  the  charging-line . 
ii3th  and  y8th  111.  regiments  cross  our  works  on  the  double- 
quick — under  a  burning  sun — the  charging-line  was  exhausted 
before  it  got  half  way  to  rebel  works.  Enemy's  batteries  get 
cross-fire  on  us,  raking  our  line  with  grape  and  canister.  Rebel 
pickets  driven  in,  most  of  them  captured.  The  charging-line 
disappears  in  the  hills  and  woods  on  our  front.  Hear  the 
fighting,  but  see  nothing.  The  deafening  crash  of  the  rebel 
batteries  as  they  continue  to  shell  our  works.  Our  charging- 
line  repulsed.  Stragglers  and  color-bearer  of  H3th  come  into 
our  works — one  of  them  struck  with  piece  of  shell  after  sit 
ting  down.  Confused  report  of  the  action.  Our  charging-line 
retired  a  few  yards  only  and  intrenched.  Our  loss  heavy. 
Our  wounded  coming  in.  Dan  McCook  mortally  wounded. 
Col.  Harmon  killed.  Major  ii3th  wounded.  Many  fine  offi 
cers  and  men  lost.  A  dark,  sad  day.  Gen.  Brannon,  Chief 
of  Artillery,  Army  of  the  Cumberland,  passes  along  in  com 
pany  with  Maj .  Houghteling,  giving  directions  for  the  planting 
of  batteries.  Gen.  Morgan  and  Company  "B"  boy  behind 
tree?  Simeon  Donelson,  of  "G,"  had  hand  torn  off  by  piece 
of  shell.  Jno.  W.  McCurdy  wounded  in  wrist  by  piece  of 
shell.  Hospital  Steward  Hobson  shot  through  the  breast  while 
standing  near  battery  in  rear  line  of  works.  It  is  related 
among  our  officers  that  Col.  Harmon  last  evening  wrote  a 
farewell  note  to  his  wife,  and  that  Gen.  Dan  McCook,  on  going 
into  action  this  morning,  said  to  some  of  his  friends:  "Boys, 
here  goes  for  a  major-general's  stars  or  a  soldier's  grave." 
[Mem. — -He  got  both.  He  was  borne  home,  where  he  lingered 
for  some  weeks.  Previous  to  his  death,  President  Lincoln  sent 
him  the  coveted  commission.]  Sim.  Donelson,  with  his  bleed 
ing  hand  torn  in  shreds,  broke  a  leafy  bough  and  passed  around 
among  the  desperately  wounded  men  and  kept  the  myriads  of 
flies  from  polluting  and  infecting  the  wounds  of  the  prostrate 
men,  and  was  the  last  to  go  upon  the  operating-bench  to  have 
his  own  wound  dressed.  Dr.  Henry  R.  Payne,  the  Division 
Surgeon,  said:  "I  thought  we  had  finished,  when  I  turned 


Recollections  of  Pioneer  and  Army  Life.  249 

half-way  'round  and  there  stood  Sim,  holding  that  dreadfully 
wounded  arm.  He  was  passed  up  quickly,  the  hand  and 
wrist  amputated  and  the  stump  dressed."  The  other  killed 
and  wounded  listed  with  the  aggregate. 

28th.  Our  batteries  in  position.  Occasional  cannon  shots 
by  both  sides.  Dead  and  wounded  of  yesterday's  charge  still 
being  brought  in — loss  of  division  yesterday  800.  84th  boys 
over  to-day.  84th  and  27th  in  our  rear.  2d  line — mail — 
total  loss  on  our  whole  line,  2,500.  At  this  point  our  men 
hold  their  ground  close  up  under  the  rebel  works.  It  is  pitiful 
to  see  their  frail  line  of  defense,  composed  of  anything  they 
could  hurriedly  pick  up  under  fire — limbs  of  trees,  dirt  scraped 
up  with  tin  cups  and  knives.  A  singular  incident  occurred 
here  to-day,  marking  a  coincidence  and  confirming  in  a  meas 
ure,  our  suspicion  as  to  the  spy's  "halloo"  heard  within  our 
lines  on  the  day  before  this  charge  was  made.  A  man  in  blue 
uniform,  with  a  mess-pan  in  his  hand,  left  the  front  of  the 
85th  111.,  walked  directly  toward  our  outposts,  behind  a  big 
tree  midway  between  the  lines;  but  passed  on  and,  before  his 
character  could  be  determined,  crossed  the  rebel  works  in 
safety. 

29th.  Glimpse  of  Marietta.  Go  down  into  Geary's  di 
vision  2oth  A.  C.  Generals  Geary  and  Hooker  at  Spring — 
the  former  a  large  man,  courteous,  frank,  hearty  address;  the 
latter  a  princely-looking,  silver-haired  old  gentleman,  of  quiet 
address,  ruddy  face.  Hooker's  glance  through  glass  at  rebel 
works — notice  new  line  of  breastworks  thrown  up  last  night — 
observe  rebels  busy  completing  abattis.  Capt.  Garternicht 
over.  Truce  to  bury  dead  on  our  front — visit  scene  of  the 
charge  of  27th  hist.  Found  ground  strewn  with  our  dead, 
the  bodies  swollen  to  twice  the  natural  size  under  a  burning 
sun.  Our  men  busy  burying.  Reb  works  crowded  with  their 
men  looking  on.  Rebel  officer  mingling  freely  with  our  bury 
ing  parties.  Conversation.  Our  men  crowding  up  on  the 
works,  prevented  by  guard  from  going  out  on  truce  ground. 
Gen.  Morgan  cautiously  appears  among  our  men,  uncovering 


250  Recollections  of  Pioneer  and  Army  Life. 

on  coming  into  the  presence  of  our  dead.  Rebel  general 
seemed  to  enjoy  our  discomfiture.  Reb  colonel  denounced 
Northern  "Copperheads"  and  New  York  Herald.  Return  to 
our  line  with  feeling  of  indignation  and  inexpressible  sorrow. 
Visit  from  A.  T.  McDill.  By  some  strange  misfortune  this 
charge  was  delivered  against  the  most  formidable  point  in 
the  line  of  rebel  works,  built  by  slave  labor,  days  in  advance, 
in  anticipation  of  the  event. 

30th.  At  2  o'clock  A.  M.  heavy  firing  on  our  front.  Rebel 
skirmishers  opened  the  action.  34th  111.  engaged — they  dig 
rifle-pits  on  our  front.  Pickled  onions  and  kraut,  antiscorbutic, 
issued  to-day.  Muster. 

July  ist.  Heavy  fog.  2d  and  3d  Brigades  keep  up  an 
incessant  firing  on  the  rebel  works.  Had  view,  from  high, 
open  ground  on  our  right,  of  rebel  fort  being  erected  to  our 
front  and  right,  distant  one  mile.  Gorgeous  sunset.  Our 
batteries  open  along  our  entire  line — no  response.  85th  111., 
directly  in  front  of  the  rebel  salient,  attempt  to  mine  the  rebel 
stronghold — our  boys  rake  their  works  with  musketry,  and  no 
"Johnny"  dare  show  his  head  ! 

2d.  Dawn — our  batteries  open — no  response — cleaning 
camp.  Rebels  fire  a  few  cannon  shots. 

3d.  3  o'clock  A.  M.  Enemy  gone.  Breakfast  at  day 
light.  Our  regiment  moves,  skirmishers  in  advance,  in  direc 
tion  of  Marietta.  Debouch  into  main  road — strike  2Oth  A.  C.— 
take  a  few  prisoners.  Halt  and  stack  arms  till  Hooker's  men 
pass.  "Fighting  Joe"  passes  on  gray  charger.  One  of  our 
batteries  opens  on  rebel  rear  guard — enemy's  artillery  replies 
from  Marietta.  Kill  one  man  and  wound  others  of  2Oth  A.  C. 
We  take  a  circuitous  route  to  town  and  enter  the  place  at 
the  Military  Institute.  Rest — prisoners — dinner — the  town — 
pretty  village — disfigured  by  the  wear  and  tear  of  armies. 
Cannonading  at  a  distance— leave  town  to  our  left,  and  move 
southward.  Pass  Hooker's  ordnance  train.  Group  of  ex 
hausted  men — very  hot  and  roads  dusty.  Column  of  infantry 
with  train  moving  on  road  to  left,  and  east  of  us  S.  R.  R.  B. 


Recollections  of  Pioneer  and  Army  Life.  251 

burying — cannonading  to  right.  Rebel  works.  In  answer  to 
a  gentleman,  Gen.  Morgan,  proud  of  his  old  regiment,  replies: 
"This  is  the  loth  Illinois."  Relieve  two  regiments  of  2oth, 
A.  C.  in  breastworks.  Night — found  the  enemy  on  our  front — 
intrenched.  Skirmishing — his  new  line  of  works  in  full  view 
across  open  fields. 

4th.  The  national  anniversary.  Bands  out — camp  re 
sounding  with  "Star-Spangled  Banner,"  "Hail  Columbia." 
"Hymn  of  Liberty,"  "Ready  to  Move  at  a  Moment's  Warn 
ing."  Cannonading  to  left,  n  o'clock  A.  M.  6oth  111.  move 
to  front  as  skirmishsrs.  Bill  of  fare  for  dinner;  quarter- 
gown  green  apples,  intensely  acid.  Munched  our  hard-tack 
in  the  trenches  in  the  hot  sun — joked  and  thought  of  the 
sumptuous  feasts  North  to-day.  Our  skirmishers  advance — 
rapid  firing — rebs  running  from  right  of  their  rifle-pits  to 
left— strengthening  them.  Our  batteries  shell  their  pits  ef 
fectually.  Scatter  their  reinforcements  and  drive  them  away. 
Our  wounded  coming  in.  One  rebel  battery  can  almost  en 
filade  our  works.  Orders  to  move  at  6:30  P.  M.  Supper. 
Our  brigade  advances  and  throws  up  a  new  line  of  works. 
Our  regiment  sent  out  to  relieve  the.  6oth  on  the  picket-line, 
which  suffered  severely  to-day.  Our  batteries  open  to  left 
and  right.  In  swamp — sunset — bands  playing  at  a  distance. 
Night — right  wing  in  reserve — left  companies  move  to  the 
front— dangerous  ground — rebs  close  at  hand — move  with  the 
greatest  caution.  Maj.  Wilson  putting  companies  in  position — 
very  dark,  thick  undergrowth  on  our  left.  Close  shooting  by 
rebel  pickets — our  boys  engaged.  During  the  night  Prvt.  Jno. 
Nelson  had  rubber  poncho  on  his  person  struck,  it  being 
folded;  on  unrolling  it,  found  eight  or  ten  holes  in  it!  James 
W.  Davis,  lying  asleep  at  our  reserve,  had  tin  can  on  his 
person  pierced  and  dirt  thrown  in  his  face  by  a  rebel  Minie- 
ball.  Maj.  Wilson  ran  the  gauntlet  of  the  enemy's  fire.  Nar 
row  escapes  were  numerous. 

5th.  3  o'clock  this  A.  M.  rebs  silently  retreat — dawn — 
visit  the  deserted  works  of  the  enemy;  found  them  very 


252  Recollections  of  Pioneer  and  Army  Life. 

strong — prisoners.  Corporal  Wallace  of  the  6oth  111.  dead — 
his  position — Lieut.  Van  Tuyl  attempts  to  awake  him,  taking 
him  to  be  asleep!  He  lay  very  naturally,  as  if  screening 
himself  from  the  enemy  behind  a  small  pine  bush.  "Come, 
come,  soldier,  it  is  daylight,  the  rebs  are  gone — get  up!" 
Alas,  for  him!  He  was  farther  advanced  than  any  of  his 
comrades,  and  the  bush  behind  which  he  had  lain  down  to 
protect  himself  was  scarcely  large  enough  to  hide  his  hand; 
There  he  lay,  as  if  about  to  take  a  shot  at  the  foe,  his  kerchief 
on  his  arm  with  which  he  wiped  his  brow;  his  gun  out  ahead 
of  him,  extended,  the  butt  against  his  shoulder,  his  face  lying 
on  the  lock.  The  enemy's  ball  entered  the  right  eye.  The 
ground  on  which  he  was  killed  had  been  a  peach  orchard, 
and  a  few  straggling  trees  remained ;  flourishing  young  pines 
were  coming  up  thickly  on  every  hand,  and  the  tender  grass 
sprouted  luxuriantly,  making  a  scene  of  real  beauty.  As  we 
moved  to  the  right  and  left  the  place  spades  were  busy 
preparing  the  grave  of  Corporal  Wallace.  Farther  on,  came 
upon  other  burying  parties — the  dead  still  lying  where  they 
had  fallen.  Moved  out  to  the  regiment  assembling  on  the 
road,  where  we  found  the  column  in  pursuit  of  the  enemy. 
Prisoners— one  of  them  seven  feet  in  height  and  as  saucy  as 
he  was  long!  Pass  through  heavy  earthworks  deserted  by 
the  enemy.  March  slow — hot — reach  hills  and  halt  for  din 
ner — cannonading  to  our  right  and  front.  Move  close  to  the 
Chattahoochie  River  and  halt.  Skirmishers  thrown  forward 
and  engaged,  loth  and  i4th  Mich,  in  advance — drive  rebel 
pickets  back  to  their  works — i4th  Mich,  lost  heavily.  Brig 
ade  forms  line  of  battle — halt  and  intrench.  Our  battery 
shells  rebel  train  moving  across  river.  Rumor  of  difficulty 
between  some  of  our  generals.  Rumor  that  our  cavalry  cap 
tured,  large  number  of  militia  and  Negroes. 

6th.  Two  rebel  divisions  reported  on  our  front.  With 
Lieut.  Winsett  in  search  of  a  spring,  observe  rebel  wagon  train 
beyond  river  on  the  double-quick.  James  M.  Rice,  on  cler- 


Recollections  of  Pioneer  and  Army  Life.  253 

ical  detail,  with  us  to-day.  Hooker  moves  to  our  right.  Our 
batteries  shell  rebel  works.  View  of  Atlanta  from  tree-top. 

yth.  In  obedience  to  order,  policed  camp  and  fitted  up 
tents  to  "stay  a  while."  Spend  the  day  in  cleaning  grounds, 
sinking  barrels  for  water,  etc.  Night — five  companies  on 
picket.  Rebs  attempt  to  advance  their  picket -line — are  driven 
back.  Shots  pass  over  camp. 

9th.  Enemy  left  Hooker's  front.  23d  A.  C.  crossed 
river  east  of  this  yesterday.  Cannonading  in  that  direction 
to-day.  Troops  gathering  large  quantities  of  blackberries. 
Capt.  Mason  says  Adjt.  Rice  died  of  neglect  of  wound  by 
hospital  attendants.  Sergt.  Brown,  of  "C,"  doing  well.  Fac 
tory  burned  up  the  river  and  train  of  wagons  brought  into  Mari 
etta  laden  with  the  operatives.  Order  to  march  at  daylight. 

roth.  Tents  struck  and  packed  for  marching — enemy 
left  our  front — prisoners  go  by — sixteen — rumor  that  we  will 
not  move.  Visit  abandoned  rebel  works.  Pine  bushes  cut 
by  Minie-balls.  Post  of  rebel  picket  reserve.  Rebel  picket 
stations — octagons — abattis — stockade — breastworks.  In  rear, 
works  for  field  officers  and  hospitals.  These  works,  a  portion 
of  them  at  least,  have  been  built  a  long  time.  Mail  to-day. 
Return  picking  blackberries.  Cannonading  on  the  river. 

i  ith.  Misty — lowering  weather — cleared  towards  noon — 
write  letters — Gen.  Sherman  and  escort  pass.  Pickets  swim 
ming — friend  and  foe  together  in  river,  and  exchange  coffee 
for  tobacco !  Gathering  berries. 

1 3th.  Rose  at  daylight  and  gathered  berries — beautiful 
springs— in  camp  again  at  noon — clothing  issued  this  P.  M. 
Evening — received  orders  to  march  at  7  A.  M.  to-morrow — 
cannonading — order  to  march  countermanded. 

1 4th.  Rumor  that  the  enemy  charged  McPherson — re 
pulsed.  Ex-Capt.  David  R.  Waters,  formerly  of  "G,"  presents 
himself.  It  is  exceptional  for  an  officer  deliberately  to  aban 
don  the  service  of  his  country  for  personal  gain — to  sell  whis 
key  and  trash  to  the  soldiers  at  extortionate  prices.  This 
seems  a  harsh  comment.  Capt.  W.  was  and  is  a  talented  man, 


254  Recollections  of  Pioneer  and  Army  Life. 

and  acted  in  this  matter  within  his  rights.  He  was  encour 
aged  by  drinking  men  like  Tillson,  and  received  the  sutlership, 
which  he  coveted. 

i5th.  Rumored  fighting  across  river.  Mail  —  berries 
plenty. 

i6th.  Cannonading  across  river.  Inspected  at  10  A.  M. 
Received  orders  to  march  at  5  A.  M. 

iyth.  Left  camp  at  5.  Marched  east  and  south — up 
north  side  of  river  to  Atlanta  road.  Came  to  bank  of  stream 
and  massed  in  ravine.  Lay  pontoons  and  cross  without  much 
opposition.  i6th  111.  in  advance — lose  four  killed  out  of  Com 
pany  "F,"  Henderson  County  men:  D.  Montgomery,  Warren 
Patterson,  Alex.  Peterson,  Thos.  Whitcher.  Two  wounded: 
John  Shaw  and  J.  E-  Nelson.  Drove  rebels  two  miles  and  go 
into  camp — dead  rebels  in  the  woods.  Send  a  note  to  The 
Plaindealer. 

1 8th.  Slept  little — our  batterymen  hard  at  work  all  night 
felling  trees  and  planting  guns — artillery  moving  all  night — 
Hooker's  batteries  passing  along  our  rear.  Visited  graves  of 
Company  "F,"  i6th  111. — found  their  comrades  disinterring 
them  to  get  their  personal  property  out  of  the  pockets  to  give 
to  friends  at  home.  Our  regiment  relieved  i6th  this  morning. 
Col.  Tillson  unwell.  Maj.  Wilson  in  command.  Army  moves — - 
our  regiment  in  advance — Companies  "D"  and  "I"  skirmish 
ers—Company  "C"  ordered  out  to  strengthen  line.  "H"  sent 
out  subsequently — Nancy  Creek — skirmishers  have  difficulty 
in  connecting  their  lines  which  rest  (right  flank)  on  Peach 
Tree  Creek — Maj.  Wilson  with  it — is  struck  in  thigh — badly 
wounded — visit  him  after  being  brought  in — lies  on  stretcher- 
he  goes  to  rear  in  ambulance,  deeply  regretted  by  all.  Dusk— 
Capt.  Frank  Munson,  right  arm  broken  by  a  rebel  ball — wound 
ed  on  picket-line.  Night — Company  "F/'  goes  on  line — fills 
space  between  "I"  and  "D";  complete  rifle-pits — hear  rebels 
talking  and  chopping  trees — shots  exchanged.  Hood  relieves 
Johnston  as  commander  of  rebel  army  on  our  front. 


Recollections  of  Pioneer  and  Army  Life.  255 

1 9th.  Call  outposts  in — mocking-birds — firing  to  right 
and  left  of  us — send  Amos  Wright  to  "reconnoitre";  gets  a 
shot — returns — swing  left  of  picket-line  forward — stream  and 
factory  close  on  our  front — in  view. 

5  P.  M.  Gen.  Morgan,  Col.  L,um,  and  major  loth  Mich, 
call  at  our  outpost  and  go  down  on  our  front  and  take  items, 
keeping  close  to  the  large  trees.  The  General  brought  loth 
Mich,  and  section  of  battery  with  him,  intending  to  advance 
upon  the  stream.  After  a  close  inspection  of  the  enemy's  po 
sition,  deferred  the  movement.  Heavy  action  on  our  left,  in 
which  "C"  participated. 

2Oth.  Aroused  at  3  A.  M.,  with  orders  to  march  at  day 
light.  Delay — 10  A.  M.,  orders  repeated  to  hold  ourselves  in 
readiness  to  move  at  any  moment;  n  A.  M.,  men  permitted  to 
take  off  cartridge-boxes.  Fighting  on  our  left — rebels  charge 
our  lines — repulsed. 

2ist.  Move  out  to  picket -line — pass  rifle-pits  which  we 
prepared  on  i8th  and  igth  inst.  Prisoners — mill — wade 
stream  and  ascend  hill  to  rebel  works,  which  are  very  strong — 
form  line  and  stack  arms.  Notice  the  effect  of  our  shot  on 
rebel  works;  found  many  of  our  balls  in  the  head-logs.  Mail. 
This  P.  M.  our  regiment  left  brigade  and  recrossed  Nancy  Creek 
to  Howell  Plantation,  and  relieved  pickets  of  2d  Brigade — three 
companies  reserve  go  into  camp.  Chattahoochie  River  close 
by.  Remains  of  railroad  bridge  in  full  view.  We  are  now  on 
the  extreme  right  of  our  army. 

22d.  Rose  early — gathered  quart  blackberries  for  break 
fast^ — cannonading  far  to  left— relieved  by  cavalry  this  A.  M. 
Return  to  brigade  in  old  camp.  Heavy  cannonading  ahead  and 
far  to  the  left.  A  battle  is  on !  Confused  reports  of  the  fight 
on  our  left  in  circulation.  General  McPherson  killed.  Our 
forces  go  into  line  and  entrench  three  miles  from  the  city.  Our 
brigade  on  the  extreme  right,  save  the  cavalry.  Our  batteries 
shelling  the  enemy — night— heavy  skirmishing  to  left.  Black 
berries.  Orders  to  strengthen  breastworks.  Lieut.  Winsett; 


256  Recollections  of  Pioneer  and  Army  Life. 

"  Oh  that  this  calamity  were  past  and  we  were  returning  home 
— so  many  of  our  brave  fellows  being  slaughtered !" 

23d.  Cannonading — profound  regret  at  the  loss  of  Gen. 
McPherson — build  shade  over  tent.  IIA.  M.  Enemy  massing 
on  our  front — generals  prepare  to  receive  them — some  curios 
ity  and  excitement.  Mr.  Eno,  from  Gen.  Thomas'  headquar 
ters — this  old  gentleman  belongs  to  the  Sanitary  Commission. 
Troops  on  our  left  in  line — our  batteries  shell  rebel  column 
passing  to  our  right — our  shell  make  it  hot  for  them — they 
double-quick  and  disappear  behind  a  belt  of  woods.  Portion 
of  the  city  can  be  seen  from  Dutchman's  house  in  rear  of  our 
camp.  Heavy  firing  far  to  the  left.  Hear  the  whistle  of  a 
railroad  engine  in  Atlanta.  Gen.  McPherson's  body  sent  North 
with  two  of  every  grade  in  his  command  as  an  escort.  Con 
stant  picket-faring  night  and  day. 

24th.  Artillery  and  musketry  fire.  Preaching  by  chap 
lain  at  rear  line  of  breastworks  this  A.  M.  Noon — Negroes  com 
ing  into  our  lines  on  road  from  west.  Received  hat  in  mail 
to-day.  Very  quiet  this  P.  M.  Bands  playing — sutlership  of 
regiment  given  to  Capt.  D.  R.  Waters.  Artillery  and  musketry 
spiteful.  Gen.  Morgan  around — says  he  will  watch  to-night — 
apprehensive — cheering  loud  and  long  by  the  entire  army. 
Heavy  firing — no  attack — cheering  and  firing  dies  away. 

25th.  Cold  last  night — misty  this  A.  M. — days  unusually 
cold.  Policed  camp  and  pitched  tents  regularly.  Night — 
signal  rockets. 

26th.  In  company  with  comrade  Ed  H.  Ellett,  obtained 
pass,  approved  by  A.  A.  Tate,  for  Capt.  Lusk,  commanding 
regiment,  and  by  Provost  Marshal  Stinson  for  Gen.  Morgan, 
by  which  we  visit  84th  111.  in  4th  A.  C.  Pass  along  the  rear  of 
1 4th  and  2oth  A.  C.'s  breastworks — batteries — reserves. 

27th.  Vacillation  of  Lusk.  Disliked  by  Morgan.  2  P. 
M.  Recall  our  pickets — assemble  and  move  into  camp — move 
out — brigade — to  road  on  the  front  of  Mitchell's  brigade — form 
line  of  battle — Companies  "G"  and  "K"  deployed  as  skirm 
ishers  under  cover  of  hill — delay — i6th  A.  C.  passing  to  the 


Recollections  of  Pioneer  and  Army  Life.  257 

right  along  our  rear— 6oth  surgeon  in  shirt  sleeves — -wrist 
bands  open  and  turned  back,  ready  for  work,  an  ominous 
figure  indeed.  Field  officers  dismounted — snatch  a  moment  to 
chat  with  Lieut.  Tunis,  4th  Iowa — -Mitchell's  men  on  works 
behind  us,  awaiting  developments.  Heavy  rain.  We  advance 
— six  companies  deployed,  four  in  reserve.  Engage  the  enemy 
after  marching  quarter  of  mile  straight  to  front.  Four  regi 
ments  close  column  by  divisions  support  us.  Rebel  captain 
killed  and  others  of  his  men  killed  and  wounded — drove  their 
entire  line  back  one  mile — i6th  A.  C.  on  our  right.  Put  bat 
tery  in  position  and  throw  up  breastworks.  6th  Ind.  of  i6th 
A.  C.  relieve  us  on  picket-line — assemble  and  return  to  old 
camp.  Loss  of  regiment  slight,  all  wounded.  Returning  to 
camp  met  iyth  A.  C. ;  also  Generals  Palmer  and  Baird.  Gen 
erals  Sherman,  Thomas,  Palmer,  and  Davis  at  Gen.  Morgan's 
headquarters  to-day — Generals  Thomas  and  Palmer  present 
Gen.  Morgan  with  a  pair  of  major-general's  shoulder-straps. 
Learn  then  our  division  will  remain  in  reserve  a  while  and  Gen. 
Baird's  will  take  the  front.  Gen.  Jeff.  C.  Davis  in  command  of 
corps. 

28th.  Gen.  Morgan  in  command  of  division.  Lieuts. 
Porter  and  Parrott  call — marched  out  on  Sandtown  road. 
Come  upon  Qth  111.  Mounted  Infantry  on  outpost  on  the  extreme 
right  flank.  Road  in  places  obstructed  by  rebel  picket  barri 
cades.  House — rail  barricade — talk  with  family,  one  mile  to 
river,  five  miles  to  Sandtown.  Turn  to  left  into  woods,  and 
halt  for  dinner.  Rumor  that  we  are  going  to  Turner's  Ferry 
on  Chattahoochie  River  Out  again  at  i  p.  M. — strike  rebel 
cavalry — drive  them — house — old  man — two  miles  to  ferry. 
Aid  from  Gen.  Davis — change  our  course — turn  to  left — can 
hear  the  sound  of  battle  at  our  old  camp — volleys  of  artillery 
and  musketry.  We  turn  sharply  to  the  left — moving  now  di 
rect  to  the  position  of  our  army — solitary  country — dim  roads — 
night — saw-mill,  house — glare  of  the  flame  in  the  old  fireplace — 
little  girl  standing  in  the  doorway,  wonder-stricken  at  the  phan 
toms  passing  in  endless  procession  through  the  darkness. 


258  Recollections  of  Pioneer  and  Army  Life. 

Rapid  firing  on  the  front  and  right  of  our  column — delay — 
long  and  tedious  march — men  dropping  out  along  the  roadside. 
Impression  that  we  did  not  accomplish  what  we  went  out  to  do 
— a  sudden  change  in  the  programme  during  our  march — no 
body  seems  to  know  the  trouble — reached  camp  in  rear  of  i5th 
A.  C.  at  i  A.  M.  [Mem. — This  was  a  most  damnable  perform 
ance.  We  earnestly  desired  to  get  into  this  mix-up  with  Hood's 
army.  It  was  the  intention  that  we  should  strike  the  enemy's 
flank.  We  had  a  guide — whether  we  were  intentionally  misled 
I  do  not  know.  It  was  as  dark  as  hell  when  we  got  into  camp, 
and  the  confusion  was  great.  On  arriving  at  the  spot  where  we 
were  to  go  into  camp,  we  came  up,  as  it  were,  out  of  the  bottom 
less  pit.  Adjt.  Theo.  Wiseman  stood  at  its  mouth  with  a  torch 
in  his  hand  to  light  us  out,  and  I  watched  him  narrowly  to  see 
if  he  had  one  big  eye  in  the  middle  of  his  forehead  and  a  tail 
with  a  spear  on  the  end  of  it.  Who  was  at  fault  in  this  "Sand- 
town"  movement  I  know  not.  One  thing  I  know:  If  Joe 
Mower  or  Phil  Sheridan  had  directed  the  movement,  our  di 
vision  would  have  found  the  flank  of  the  enemy  in  short  order. 
How  did  Gordon  Granger  find  the  enemy  when  Gen.  Thomas 
was  hard  pressed  on  the  field  of  Chickamauga?  By  the  sound 
of  battle.  God  bless  his  memory.]* 

29th.  Issuing  rations — breakfast — Quartermaster  Oliver 
Pyatt  called — Gens.  Sherman  and  Davis  discuss  the  orders 
given  Gen.  Morgan  yesterday.  Gen.  Sherman  gave  no  order 
to  go  to  Turner's  Ferry — Gen.  Morgan  received  that  order, 
and  no  other.  We  were  to  have  gone  to  the  extreme  right  of 
our  army  and  taken  position  to  attack  the  flank  of  the  as 
saulting  rebel  column.  Gen.  Davis  (sick  at  this  time)  much 

*Recent  search  has  ferreted  out  the  truth  concerning  this  move 
ment.  This  contretemps  rests  heavily  upon  our  division  to  this  day.  It 
gs  ve  Sherman  an  opportunity  to  slur  the  Army  of  the  Cumberland,  which 
he  took  advantage  of  in  his  "Memoirs."  The  order  of  the  general  of 
the  army  was  erroneously  copied  by  a  clerk  at  the  Corps  Headquarters. 
The  blunder  was  higher  up  than  General  James  D.  Morgan,  and  the 
grand  old  man  felt  so  indignant  at  the  aspersions  of  Sherman  that  he 
did  not  at  the  time,  nor  ever  afterward,  attempt  to  vindicate  his  repu 
tation  as  a  safe  and  sure  soldier  in  the  field. 


Recollections  of  Pioneer  and  Army  Life.  259 

disappointed  at  the  miscarriage.  Passed  over  the  battle-ground 
to-day.  "Louisiana  Tigers"  fought  desperately  —  many  of 
them  fell  on  our  works — reported  that  regiment  lost  their 
colonel,  major,  and  seven  captains  killed.  In  front  of  the  55th 
Ohio  and  26th  111.  many  rebel  dead  over  the  ground.  "Put" 
says,  "They  tried  to  get  us  into  a  fight  yesterday,  but  we  were 
too  sharp  for  them."  12  M.  Our  brigade,  commanded  by  Col. 
Robt.  F.  Smith,  i6th  111.,  moved  to  the  front — loth  Mich,  on 
the  skirmish-line — forward  through  woods  in  line  of  battle — 
weather  very  hot — cross  large  road  leading  into  the  city — 
halt  and  throw  up  rail  barricade. 

4:30  P.  M.  Our  pickets  engaged.  3d  Div.  2oth  A.  C.  on 
our  right.  Our  entire  line  of  investment  moved  forward  this 
P.  M.  and  erected  works — farm-houses  burning — battery  going 
into  position — fifty-seven  dead  "Johnnies"  Sound  through  the 
woods  on  the  ground  of  the  action  of  the  28th  inst.  Dropped 
a  little  to  the  rear  of  our  first  position  and  dug  trenches  by 
torchlight. 

3oth.  Roused  at  3  o'clock — completed  breastworks — 
orders  to  move — delay — Col.  Tillson  visits  us  to-day — not  able 
for  duty  yet.  Noon — Morgan  L.  Smith's  division  of  i5th  A.  C. 
relieves  3d  Brigade  of  our  division.  Shift  to  right  and  ad 
vance  flank  half  mile  and  throw  up  breastworks — hard  work — 
i6th  111.  in  reserve.  Occasional  shots  on  our  picket-line. 
Brigade  of  Hooker's  men  on  our  right.  Mail — rumor  of  a 
fight  on  the  left. 

3ist.  Aroused  at  3  o'clock — bugles,  drums  and  brigade 
bands — " Star-Spangled  Banner, "  "Old  Hundred."  Left  camp 
at  7 — light  marching  order — on  reconnaissance;  moved  west 
to  farm-house — turned  to  left  and  south,  down  dim  road. 
i6th  111.  deployed.  Entered  woods — reached  hills  and  swamp — 
found  the  enemy — heavy  skirmishing — rebel  works — their  bat 
teries  shell  us.  Heavy  rain-storm — three  in  i6th  wounded, 
also  slight  loss  in  loth  Mich.  Form  line  of  battle,  and  cut 
brush  from  our  front — right  of  regiment  refused,  being  on  the 
flank.  Gens.  Thomas,  Whipple  and  Ward — McK.  sick — not 


26o  Recollections  of  Pioneer  and  Army  Life. 

with  us.  Returned  to  camp  at  4  p.  M.  Order  removing  our 
regiment  from  old  brigade.  Dissatisfaction  on  the  part  of  our 
men — night,  wet — dry  clothing.  This  order  removing  our 
regiment  from  Morgan's  old  brigade  is  the  result  of  an  old 
quarrel  between  Tillson  and  Morgan.  The  regiment  must 
suffer  to  appease  Tillson's  malice. 

August  i  st.  Made  change  in  officers'  mess  arrangements — • 
a  few  subs  and  coffee-coolers,  sponging  their  living — agree  to 
dismiss  them.  Signed  "grub"  note  for  $59  for  Ira  Putney. 
Issuing  rations  this  morning — Col.  Tillson  reported  for  duty — 
evening — removal  trouble — officers  summoned  to  headquarters. 
Col.  Tillson  demands  our  support  of  his  course  in  taking  the 
regiment  out  of  our  old  division  and  corps.  Mason  and  two 
others,  off -color  trio,  secretly  oppose  him.  Their  farewell  paper 
to  Gen.  Morgan.  Troops  advance  lines. 

2d.  Go  on  picket  at  8  A.  M.  Relieved  i6th  111.  Six 
companies  on  line,  four  in  reserve.  "Put"  Caldwell,  i6th, 
wounded  in  right  foot.  10  A.  M.  Lieut.  Van  Tuyl  and  twelve 
men  reconnoitre — developed  blackberries!  Cavalry  on  our 
right.  Enemy  reported  massing  on  our  front.  Strict  orders 
to  hold  our  picket-line !  Men  in  trenches  strengthening  works- 
prepared  for  them.  23d  A.  C.  move  in  on  our  front  and 
entrench.  Withdraw  to  trenches.  Mail. 

3d.  James  Shoemaker  visits  us.  Also  Capt.  Hall,  Com. 
Subsistence,  3d  Brigade,  3d  Div.,  23d  A.  C.  Prvt.  Jno.  Tank 
fires  his  gun  against  orders.  Tillson's  reprimand.  This  P.  M. 
enemy  drive  in  our  pickets — shell  them  back — heavy  cannon 
ading — rain — read  in  Chattanooga  paper  (Gazette)  of  death 
of  Francis  P.  Speck,  in  General  Hospital,  Lookout  Mountain. 
Severe  fighting  on  our  left  to-day. 

4th.  Aroused  at  3  A.  M.  Left  camp — light  marching  or 
der  with  tools.  2d  and  3d  Brigades  ahead — pass  Gen.  Scho- 
field's  headquarters.  Gen.  Baird  and  Gen.  Cox  close  by.  ist 
and  3d  Divisions  went  to  right  last  night. 

3  p.  M.  rumor  that  we  are  to  have  a  fight.  Move  out  on 
front  of  ist  Division  and  take  position  on  hill  in  columns  by 


Recollections  of  Pioneer  and  Army  Life.  261 

regiments.  Troops  moving  past  us  into  woods  on  our  front 
and  into  position.  Artillery  packed  in  valley  to  our  left  and 
rear.  Ambulances  debouching  into  valley  and  going  into 
park — a  place  seemingly  made  for  their  safety.  Rebs  shell 
us — shell  blows  hat  off  one  fellow  and  dints  the  muzzle  of 
his  musket — this  and  nothing  more.  Lieut.  Anderson,  Com 
pany  "G,"  reported  for  duty  from  hospital  at  Chattanooga. 
Two  of  our  batteries  shell  rebel  works  furiously.  6  P.  M.  rapid 
skirmish  firing.  Evening — air  dense  with  smoke,  obscuring 
the  landscape.  Our  division  files  along  edge  of  woods — sun 
set — the  blue  sky — mist  rising  along  the  forest — ambulances 
going  to  rear  with  wounded — groups  of  soldiers  in  valley — 
Negroes  in  valleys  stiff  with  fright — eventide — horses  grazing 
in  the  valley — fires  lighting — smoke  settling — shouts  of  team 
sters  coming  up — cheers  of  our  skirmishers  driving  the  en 
emy — one  brigade  of  our  division  gets  position  on  hill  to  our 
front.  Rebels  shell  them — heavy  picket-firing — spirt  of  balls 
passing  over  us — soldiers  passing  to  the  front  from  commis 
sary  with  boxes  of  hard-tack  on  shoulders.  Sapphire  sky — 
stars — multitudinous  voices  of  insects — hum  and  buzz  of  the 
Union  host  settling  into  camp.  New  moon — thin  crescent 
above  the  western  horizon — camp  close  column  by  divisions — 
entrench — sleep  without  blankets. 

5th.  Breakfast — prisoners — Gen.  Morgan — we  advance — 
loth  Mich,  skirmishers — some  loss.  Advance  over  a  mile — 
entrench — put  up  traverses  to  prevent  enemy  from  enfilading 
trenches.  Shell  us  severely — no  casualties  in  our  regiment. 
Gens.  Morgan  and  King,  ist  Tenn.,  23d  A.  C.,  on  our  right. 
Send  detail  to  old  camp  for  knapsacks. 

6th.  Hazy  and  cool.  Reb  sharpshooters  throwing  balls 
among  us — they  shell  us- — our  skirmishers  drive  their  pickets 
in^-threw  their  shell  among  us  all  day.  12  M.  i6th  and  i4th 
sent  to  front,  to  support  pickets.  23d  A.  C.  advances — heavy 
firing  in  that  direction — i6th  and  I4th  return — one  of  "B" 
wounded  by  piece  of  shell.  Night— heavy  rain. 


262  Recollections  of  Pioneer  and  Army  Life. 

yth.  Issuing  rations.  12  M.  hot  skirmishing  on  our  front 
— 1 4th  Mich,  sent  out  to  support  our  line.  Two  of  our  batter 
ies  open  on  rebel  works.  Gen.  Sherman  and  Howard  stop  in 
rear  of  our  line.  Fighting  on  our  left.  Turn  the  enemy's  left — 
he  falls  back — we  advance — take  prisoners — reach  rebel  works, 
reverse  them  and  erect  traverses — shell  us — take  head  off  one 
man,  wound  others — make  it  hot  for  us.  Move  forward  to 
crest  of  range  of  hills  and  entrench.  Fighting  to  left  of  us. 
Our  wounded — more  prisoners.  Showers  to-day.  Rebel  lieu 
tenant  brought  in  wounded. 

8th.  Brisk  firing  on  picket-line.  2d  111.  Artillery  in  po 
sition  on  our  front.  Put  up  head-logs.  Enemy  throwing  shell 
among  us  with  great  precision.  Knapsacks  brought  up — Jno. 
Crawford  slightly  wounded  by  piece  of  shell.  12  M.  Sergt. 
Ben.  Kimball  of  "  K  "  killed  while  eating  dinner — Lieut.  Tommy 
Kennedy  affected  to  tears  at  this  loss — buried  in  rear  of  camp. 
One  of  "D"  and  another  of  "K"  wounded.  Narrow  escape 
of  Capt.  Mason  and  others  from  shell.  Mail — 23d  and  portion 
of  our  A.  C.  to  advance  to-day — rain  prevented  this  movement. 

6  P.  M.  Relieve  i6th  111.  on  picket-line.  McKinney  sick — 
Van  Tuyl  ist  platoon,  myself  2d  platoon.  Pine  tree  over  our  pit 
— put  men  in  forward  trenches — Billy  Endicott  and  others — 
enemy's  works  very  close  and  in  full  view — angry  firing  all 
day.  Sid  McCurdy  hit  in  heel.  Found  dead  rebel  in  front 
of  our  pits — killed  on  the  yth,  while  engaged  with  i4th  Mich. 
Sid  got  half  dollar  in  silver  and  knife  from  his  pocket — buried 
him!  Midnight — squad  of  i4th  Mich,  appear  and  ask  per 
mission  to  go  out  in  front  of  our  pits  and  bury  two  of  their 
dead  who  fell  here  on  the  yth. 

9th.  Heavy  firing  on  left.  Our  batteries  shell  rebel  camp, 
which  is  in  full  view  in  edge  of  woods  across  open  field.  12  M. 
23d  A.  C.  advances.  2d  111.  shell  rebel  pits;  knock  head-logs 
off.  Our  boys  spoiled  several  rebs — saw  them  carried  off  on 
stretchers.  Deserters  came  in  last  night  from  4th  Ga.  Sharp 
shooters.  That  regiment  at  Resaca  was  400  strong;  have  now 
but  80  men ;  40  lost  in  front  of  our  brigade  in  the  advance  on  the 


Recollections  of  Pioneer  and  Army  Life.  263 

7th.     Rebel  forts  on  our  left.     3P.M.    Artillery  duel.     Relieved 
at  6  P.  M.  by  i4th  Mich. 

loth.  Rebels  shell  our  camp;  kill  one  of  "D."  Narrow 
escapes. 

1 2th.  Orders  to  move  at  daylight.  Baird's  3d  Division 
in  our  entrenchments — 3ist  Ohio  relieves  us  on  the  picket-line. 
Keep  our  reserve  at  the  old  place,  but  move  our  line  to  the 
right.  Brigade  shift  to  right  and  occupy  trenches  of  brigade 
of  23d  A.  C.  Mail.  6  P.  M.,  return  to  trenches  of  i4th  Mich., 
near  Gen.  Cox's  headquarters. 

1 3th.  Rumor  of  our  leaving  old  brigade  soon  and  going 
to  iyth  A.  C.  Orders  for  our  removal  said  to  be  with  Gen. 
Morgan.  Night — attend  orayer-meeting  in  company  with 
Lieut.  Van  Tuyl. 

1 4th.  Policed  grounds  and  pitched  tents.  Orders  for 
monthly  inspection  to-morrow.  Suggest  Soldiers'  Monument 
to  Sergeant  Andrew  Fuller  and  others.  The  sergeant  is  a  man 
who  would  adorn  any  company  of  men  to  which  he  belonged. 
1 5th.  Details  sent  to  country  for  green  corn.  Bathe  at 
Cascades  this  A.  M.  Receive  orders  to  make  out  charges  against 
John  Tank  for  firing  his  gun  in  camp.  Excitement  about  leav 
ing  brigade — men  generally  opposed  to  it — if  left  to  a  vote  of 
the  men,  it  would  be  defeated  unanimously. 

i6th.  Draft  circular  for  Soldiers' Monument.  Evening — 
relieve  i6th  on  picket.  The  loss  of  such  men  as  Wallace  W. 
Rice,  Samuel  Plummer,  James  McDill,  Gid.  H.  Ayres,  and  oth 
ers,  of  Henderson  County,  suggested  the  monument  to  their 
memory. 

iyth.  Hot — bad  rifle-pits — too  narrow — men  cramped  up 
in  them.  Close  firing  by  the  enemy.  Chas.  Cowan  grazed  in 
ankle  by  ball.  Relieved — meet,  going  to  camp,  Lieut?.  Porter 
and  Aton.  Arrange  to  visit  84th  111.  with  them  to-morrow. 

i8th.  Lieut.  Porter  refused  permission  by  Col.  Cahill  to 
be  absent  from  his  regiment  to-day.  Visit  84th  with  Lieut. 
Aton — mule  mounts — complete  draft  of  articles  for  Soldiers' 
Monument  Association. 


264  Recollections  of  Pioneer  and  Army  Life. 

1 9th.  Roused  at  3  A.  M.  by  color-corporal  and  afterwards 
by  Col.  Tillson,  with  orders  to  be  ready  to  march  at  5.  Troops 
moving  in  to  take  our  place — took  cup  of  coffee  and  moved  to 
right  and  occupied  works  of  23d  A.  C.  Returned  to  old  camp 
at  midnight — learn  from  "Solomon"  that  we  leave  for  the 
1 7th  A.  C.  to-morrow. 

Under  an  order  from  the  War  Department,  secured  by  the 
scheming  of  Col.  John  Tillson,  we  exchanged  the  "Acorn"  (nth 
A.  C.)  for  the  "Arrow"  (lyth  A.  C.).  After  three  years  of 
active  service  with  Gen.  James  D.  Morgan,  in  whom  we  had 
unbounded  confidence,  to  be  torn  away  from  our  old  division 
and  corps  to  gratify  the  spite  of  John  Tillson  was  deeply  mor 
tifying.  And  our  chagrin  was  not  lessened  when,  a  few  dasy 
after  our  departure  to  the  iyth  A.  C.,  our  old  division,  led  by 
Gen.  Morgan,  gallantly  charged  the  enemy's  lines  and  captured 
an  entire  brigade  and  two  rebel  batteries  of  ten  guns.  Is  it  not 
plain  that  Tillson  played  himself  for  an  ass?  In  the  face  of  all, 
the  regiment  continued  to  do  its  full  duty. 

2oth.  Bid  old  brigade  good-bye — God  bless  the  brave  old 
band — forced  to  leave  them  or  we  should  never  separate.  Call 
on  i6th  111.  before  leaving  along  with  comrade  Ed  H.  Ellett. 
We  chose  our  own  road  to  iyth  A.  C.  Comrade  Ellett  is  one  of 
our  most  popular  men  and  an  accomplished  soldier.  Reach 
Gen.  Ransom's  headquarters — Henry  McDermott— coffee — 
Col.  Tillson — regiment  comes  up — camp  in  rear  line — left  wing 
— right  wing  in  the  advance  works.  Indecision  of  Capt.  Lusk — 
Col.  Tillson  commands  brigade — 3d;  ist  Division  commanded 
by  Maj.-Gen.  Joe  Mower,  with  whom  we  began  our  career  as 
soldiers  at  Island  No.  10. 

2ist.  In  response  to  an  order,  I  reported  at  brigade  head 
quarters,  where  Col.  Tillson  offered  me  a  position  on  his  staff; 
in  effect,  it  is  a  command  and  I  cannot  refuse,  although  I  have 
no  desire  for  close  relations  with  its  commander. 

22d.     Am  to  report  to  Col.  Tillson  to-morrow  morning. 

23d.  Eight  companies  on  picket  at  3  A.  M.  On  duty  at 
brigade  headquarters. 


Recollections  of  Pioneer  and  Army  Life.  265 

24th.  Dr.  Payne  and  Capt.  McEnally  took  dinner  with  us. 
Advised  of  a  move  to  take  place  to-morrow  morning.  Mail — 
letter  from  brother  Ewell.  John  Winsett  reports  for  duty  from 
hospital ;  leaves  for  his  company,  which  is  detached .  Stationed 
aUbridge  on  Chattahoochie  River,  guarding  commissary  stores 
— enemy  shell  us.  Night — marching  orders  received  for  9  A.  M. 

25th.  Clear  and  hot.  Very  quiet  on  the  lines — packing 
up — teams  departing — learn  that  2oth  A.  C.  has  swung  back  on 
river  and  entrenched.  The  rest  of  the  army,  50,000  strong, 
side-stepped  to  right — on  Jonesboro. 

26th.  Orders  received  to  have  commands  in  readiness  to 
move  at  8  p.  M.  Night — we  evacuate  works — delay  in  getting 
off —rebels  shell  us — they  can  hear  our  artillery  moving — strong 
picket-line  out— march  all  night — pass  Owl  Church.  Halt  for 
rest  in  morning.  Slept  none  for  two  nights.  Pass  on  and  halt 
again  at  10  A.  M. — take  breakfast — find  our  trains  here. 
March  on  two  miles — place  troops  in  position — post  pickets. 
One  of  the  Adams  family,  relation  of  the  late  John  Q.  Adams, 
is  reported  to  be  driving  a  team  in  this  army. 

2yth.  Again  on  duty  with  my  company.  Delayed  in 
camp  till  sunset,  when,  the  train  having  stretched  out  on  the 
road,  we  move  out  as  rear  guard.  Pass  cavalry.  All  night 
going  about  three  miles — wagons  upset — burn  them — Capt. 
Carpenter  missing;  supposed  to  be  captured.  Went  into  camp 
— train  ahead  in  corrall.  Green  corn  for  dinner  and  supper. 
Hear  of  active  operations  on  the  front— troops  go  out  on  the 
double-quick.  [Mem. — Col.  Tillson  gave  me  an  appointment 
on  the  brigade  staff.  The  books  were  easily  kept,  and  the 
duties  otherwise  were  not  beyond  the  capacity  of  any  man  of 
average  intelligence ;  but  I  had  difficulty  with  Tillson  almost  at 
once.  He  received  an  order  which  was  part  of  a  very  import 
ant  move  by  the  whole  army,  and  which  resulted  in  the  capture 
of  Atlanta  itself.  He  made  two  verbal  drafts  of  the  order  in 
succession;  having  made  one,  he  forthwith  made  the  other,  and 
then,  after  some  reflection,  went  back  to  the  first,  remarking 
that  one's  first  thoughts  were  the  best.  I  said  to  him,  "This 


266  Recollections  of  Pioneer  and  Army  Life. 

order  I  will  have  to  deliver  to  Capt.  L,usk — a-  slender  reed  to 
lean  upon — and  it  must  be  as  plain  as  a  barn  door  or  we  will 
get  into  trouble."  I  did  not  hear  the  order  as  delivered  from 
Gen.  Fuller,  but  I  gave  Tillson's  version  of  it  clearly  and  re 
peated  it  to  Lusk,  and  he  did  what  he  was  expressly  forbidden 
to  do.  At  the  moment  Tillson  cast  the  blame  on  Gen.  Fuller; 
but  Tillson  drank  whiskey  over-much,  and,  so  far  as  I  am  per 
sonally  involved  in  this  or  any  other  controversy  with  him,  I 
am  now,  as  then,  a  better  man  than  he  ever  was  cut  out  to  be.] 

3oth.  Marched  at  6.  Railroad  ties  burned — rails  twisted 
and  broken — this  is  the  M.  &  W.  R.  R.  i5th  A.  C.  moving  on 
our  left — in  the  direction  of  Jonesboro.  We  move  on  the  ex 
treme  right — circuitous  route.  Kilpatrick  ahead — drives  rebel 
cavalry.  Darkness  overtakes  us — very  weary — 10  o'clock  and 
no  camp — men  clamorous  and  exasperated.  Billy  Endicott 
cursing  at  a  huge  rate — man  in  company  next  in  our  rear 
opens  with  a  volley  of  oaths — Billy  eclipsed — felt  ashamed  of 
his  own  conduct  as  reflected  in  the  bad  temper  of  the  other — 
silent  for  a  few  minutes — gets  humorous,  crying  out:  "O  my 
bleeding  country!"  "Hurrah  for  Abe  Lincoln!  hurrah  for 
the  Union!"  Marched  till  n  o'clock  and  camped  two  miles 
from  Jonesboro.  Hear  railroad  train.  Pickets  firing. 

3ist.  Constant  picket-firing — cannonading  to  left — trains 
running.  Advance  lines  and  throw  up  works.  Rebels  charge 
1 5th  A.  C. — repulsed  with  great  loss — shift  to  left  on  double- 
quick — Jack  Thomas,  of  "A,"  and  Sergt.  Nicholas  Smith  and 
others  wounded.  Entrench — prisoners — see  steeples  in  town 
of  Jonesboro — night — cars  running  continually. 

September  i.  Orders  to  be  ready  to  move  at  a  moment's 
warning.  Gen.  Ransom — prisoners — Tunis  and  Allen,  of  2d 
and  yth  Iowa. 

p.  M.  Fighting  on  our  left.  i4th  A.  C.,  Gen.  Morgan's 
division,  charges  the  enemy;  breaks  his  lines — captured  c  i.e 
brigadier-general,  2,000  prisoners  and  ten  guns!  Our  lines 
advance — enemy  retreating — night  coming  on — enemy  evacu 
ating — our  batteries  shell  them  furiously — tremendous  cheer- 


Recollections  of  Pioneer  and  Army  Life.  267 

ing!  Midnight,  enemy  exploding  ammunition.  Gen.  O.  O. 
Howard's  congratulatory  order  on  the  success  of  recent  move 
ments,  resulting  in  the  capture  of  Atlanta.  But  for  Tillson 
we  would  have  shared  in  the  glory  won  by  our  old  division 
under  Gen.  Morgan! 

2d.  Enemy  gone.  Our  army  after  them — our  division 
delayed.  Move  into  Jonesboro  in  the  evening  with  train. 

3d.  Churches  filled  with  rebel  dead  and  wounded.  Our 
own  wounded  in  tents.  Go  on  picket — relieved — march  to 
front  after  night. 

5th.  We  move  to  left  and  fall  back  into  new  line  of 
works.  Right  wing  of  regiment  on  picket — rain-storm.  Gens. 
Howard,  Ransom  and  Fuller  in  house — brigade  headquarters. 

6th.  Drop  back  into  old  works  before  Jonesboro — rebel 
cavalry  following  us — they  are  in  town — raining. 

8th.  Left  camp  early  and  marched  in  the  direction  of 
Atlanta — cannonading  in  our  rear — rebel  cavalry  pressing  our 
rear  guard.  Reached  vicinity  of  East  Point  in  the  evening 
and  went  into  camp  behind  old  rebel  entrenchments. 

9th.  Moved  one  mile  nearer  East  Point  Station — within 
inner  line  of  rebel  fortifications — policed  grounds  and  put  up 
tents.  Right  wing  east  of  main  Atlanta  road  — left  wing 
west  of  this  road — brigade  headquarters  directly  in  our  rear — 
spring  water  close  by — this  is  our  place  of  rest  after  the  long 
and  difficult  summer  campaign.  While  in  this  camp  the  fol 
lowing  line  officers  resigned:  Capt.  Charles  McEnally,  "B" 
Co.;  Capt.  John  Boyle,  "C"  Co.;  Capt.  Samuel  Mason,  "D" 
Co.;  Capt.  G.  C.  Lusk,  "K"  Co.;  ist  Lieut.  Richard  Wol- 
cott,  "F"  Co. 

The  following  officers  of  the  line  received  furloughs  for 
thirty  days:  Capt.  Colin  McKinney,  "E"  Co.;  ist  Lieut. 
Henry  C.  McGrath,  "A"  Co.;  2d  Lieut.  Geo.  D.  Woodard, 
"H"  Co. 

A  large  number  of  enlisted  men  received  furloughs  also. 
At  this  time  Lieut. -Col.  M.  F.  Wood  returned  to  regiment  for 
duty  and  took  command.  A  number  of  enlisted  men  whose 


268  Recollections  of  Pioneer  and  Army  Life. 

term  of  service  (three  years)  had  expired,  were  mustered  out. 
Those  in  our  own  company  were  as  follows:  A.  R.  Graham, 
Jas.  M.  Rice,  Frank  Rascher,  Henry  Millholland,  Kirk  P. 
Hartley,  John  Rosebaum. 

On  26th  September,  in  obedience  to  orders,  I  took  com 
mand  of  Company  "F" — receipted  to  Lieut.  Wolcott  for  ord 
nance,  camp  and  garrison  equipage. 

Raised  a  subscription  of  five  hundred  dollars  in  our  com 
pany  for  Soldiers'  Monument  in  Henderson  County.  The  facts 
in  regard  to  the  above  subscription  are,  it  was  cheerfully  given, 
but  was  much  larger  than  the  company  could  afford. 

THE  HOOD  CHASE. 

October  ist.  Mess  with  Lieut.  Winsett.  Confused  re 
ports  coming  in  as  to  Hood's  movements.  Received  orders 
at  i  P.  M.  to  be  ready  to  move  at  2  :3O.  At  this  hour  moved 
out  and  formed,  close  column  by  companies,  on  parade-ground ; 
stacked  arms — breezy,  but  hot.  Brigade  band — troops  pass — 
prisoners — inarched  three  miles  and  bivouac  for  the  night. 

2d.  Left  camp  at  5.  Marched  ten  miles — came  up  with 
small  force  of  the  enemy  and  drove  them — returned  to  the 
camp  we  left  in  the  morning.  On  picket  with  Company  "F," 
detachment  of  25th  Ind.  and  detail  from  Company  "B," 
sixty-five  in  all.  Terrific  thunder-storm — slept  none. 

3d.  Left  camp  at  6  A.  M. — returned  to  old  camp  in  the 
trenches.  Took  breakfast  and  packed  baggage  and  sent  to 
Atlanta  to  be  stored.  Received  marching  orders  for  to-mor 
row.  Ira  Putney  mustered  out  after  making  three  trips  to 
4th  Division  mustering  officer — had  at  last  to  apply  to  Gen. 
Ransom.  '  Night — complete  an  article  for  Plaindealer  on  W. 
W.  Rice,  ist  lieutenant  and  adjutant.  Place  it  in  the  hands 
of  "  Put"  on  the  eve  of  his  deoarture  for  home. 

4th.  Troops  moving  since  daylight — delay — left  camp  at 
i  p.  M.  Move  slowly  and  halt  often.  Draw  rations  on  the 
roadside.  Pass  i4th  A.  C.  camp.  Old  rebel  forts — suburbs  of 


Recollections  of  Pioneer  and  Army  Life.  269 

Atlanta — strike  Sand  town  road — turn  to  left  upon  it.  Night. 
Road  blocked  with  troops — succeed  in  the  course  of  two 
hours  in  marching  one  mile!  "Yakob"  afflicted  with  night- 
blindness — send  him  to  ambulance.  Bad  roads — wagons  break 
down — throw  away  camp  equipage — strike  railroad — march 
along  it — Negro  pickets — Chattahoochie  River — cross  and  halt 
in  road — cold — sleepy — stiff.  3  o'clock  A.  M.  Men  giving  out 
— fall  by  the  wayside. 

5th.  Marched  all  night  and  still  marching.  Road  lined 
with  sleeping  stragglers — not  stragglers,  perhaps,  but  men  com 
pletely  given  out — pass  through  old  earthworks — troops  break 
fasting — Doc.  Payne — Gen.  Fuller — countermarch  one  mile 
and  halt  for  breakfast.  Aching  feet — do  not  move. — 12  M. 
Stragglers  coming  in — Company  "F"  boys  get  on  train  at 
Chattahoochie  River  and  ride  to  Marietta,  from  whence  we 
joined  regiment.  Send  our  valises  to  Marietta,  where  they  are 
taken  charge  of  by  quartermaster,  who  remains  behind.  This 
is  the  battle-ground  of  4th  July.  Left  camp  at  dusk,  with 
but  few  minutes'  warning,  and  marched  till  midnight  to  with 
in  one  mile  of  battle-ground  of  2yth  June — Kenesaw  Mountain. 
Halt  in  old  rebel  works — rain — drowned  out — am  amazed  at 
the  rapidity  with  which  we  get  over  this  ground  now,  as  com 
pared  to  our  progress  south  over  the  same  roads  during  the 
spring  and  summer! 

6th.  Marching  orders  countermanded.  Bounced  coffee- 
coolers  from  our  mess! 

yth.  Heavy  fog  this  morning — distant  cannonading — 
pioneers  go  out — read  "Mexico"  and  "On  Horseback  into 
Oregon"  in  the  Atlantic. 

4  P.  M.  Order  to  march — countermanded — dispatch  from 
signal  station  of  Corse's  fight  at  Altoona.  "157  rebel  dead 
before  our  works."  Our  loss  in  killed,  wounded  and  missing 
slight.  Orders  to  march  at  4  A.  M.  Hood  has  a  good  pair 
of  legs  and  is  keeping  out  of  our  way. 

8th.  March  delayed — high  wind  and  cold — read  all  day — 
had  to  keep  under  my  blankets  most  of  the  day,  it  was  so  cold. 


270  Recollections  of  Pioneer  and  Army  Life. 

Received  marching  orders  for  to-morrow.  Put  up  a  wind 
break  and  slept  well. 

gth.  High  wind  continues.  "A"  and  "F"  rear  guard  — 
march  to  Marietta — seminary — residences  burning — hospitals 
— cemetery — camps — moved  beyond  town  and  camped  in  the 
woods,  close  column  by  division;  main  portion  of  the  army  in 
camp  here:  Hot — graves  of  soldiers  killed  during  summer 
campaign. 

loth.  In  camp — five  companies  forage  to-day — broke 
camp  in  the  evening  and  marched  to  Ackworth — reached  camp 
at  midnight. 

i  ith.  Marched  to  Altoona — evidences  of  the  fight — garri 
son  still  there — bridge  over  Etowah — Centreville — people  cheer 
us — railroad  trains. 

1 2th.  March  to  Kingston — cannonading  at  Rome — bulk  of 
the  opposing  armies  in  that  direction.  Troops  and  ordnance 
trains  pass  on  to  Rome — our  regiment  got  aboard  train  for  Re- 
saca — road  torn  up  twelve  miles;  Hood  smashed  it  good. 
Come  to  within  half-mile  of  the  break — "A"  and  "F"  on 
skirmish-line — reach  break — rebels  fled — repair  break,  during 
which  "I"  is  feeling  the  way  in  advance.  Overtake  them  with 
engine  at  tank.  "I"  gets  aboard  and  "D"  takes  the  advance  . 
Reach  Calhoun.  "F"  and  "D"  on  picket — Federal  commis 
sary — $600  horse — rebel  cavalry  just  left  town.  Dispatch  from 
Resaca — our  garrison  there  summoned  to  surrender!  Not 
much!  Train  returns  to  Kingston — we  move  forward  to  Re 
saca.  "D"  in  advance — "E"  flankers — Lieut.  Van  Tuyl  on 
right  with  ist  platoon,  myself  on  left  of  railroad  track  with  2d 
platoon — placed  in  temporary  charge  of  this.  Capture  cavalry 
horse  and  accoutrements  on  skirmishing-line — belonged  to  rebel 
deserter  or  spy.  Arrive  at  Resaca  at  3  in  the  morning — very 
cold — cross  on  pontoons — enter  fort  and  fill  trenches — 850  of 
our  men  here,  mustered  out  on  their  way  North — time  expired. 
These  movements  at  night,  in  the  confusion  of  pursuit,  some 
queer  things  happened;  one,  a  horseman  having  an  altercation 


Recollections  of  Pioneer  and  Army  Life.  271 

with  some  of  our  mounted  officers;  I  observed  the  man  ride  off; 
he  was  believed  to  be  a  spy. 

1 3th.  Enemy  in  view — constant  picket-firing — enemy 
maneuvering  on  our  front. 

Afternoon.  Rebel  force  understood  to  have  crossed  river 
and  advancing  to  attack  us — people  come  in  from  the  surround 
ing  country  for  safety.  Wife  of  Gen.  L.  H.  Rousseau  here  with 
wives  of  other  officers.  4  P.  M.  Our  skirmishers  advance  and 
drive  the  enemy  from  intrenchments — cheering.  Our  cavalry 
out — our  artillery  used  with  effect— sunset — reinforcements — 
rebels  attempt  a  charge — repulsed. 

i4th.  Enemy  gone — our  cavalry  in  pursuit — had  the  en 
emy  remained,  we  were  to  have  charged  them.  Large  part  of 
our  army  arrived  here  to-day. 

1 5th.  Roused  at  3  A.  M.  Army  broke  camp  and  moved 
after  the  enemy  in  the  direction  of  Snake  Creek  Gap.  Came 
up  with  his  rear  guard  at  the  mouth  of  the  Gap.  Our 
brigade  in  advance.  We  form  line  of  battle — skirmishers  drive 
the  enemy  away  with  loss  of  twelve  killed  and  wounded.  Gen. 
Sherman  talking  to  prisoner — Gens.  Howard,  Ransom,  and 
Fuller — enter  Gap — road  obstructed  with  fallen  trees  of  large 
size.  Completely  blocked — our  prisoners  cut  them  away. 
Slow  progress — skirmishing  constantly,  our  regiment  deployed 
— march  over  the  hills  with  extreme  difficulty — deep  ravines — 
weather  extremely  hot — Gen.  Ransom  reprimands  Lieut.-Col. 
Mac  Wood,  and  justly. 

1 6th.  1 5th  A.  C.  in  advance  to-day.  Rebels  living  on 
parched  corn,  sorghum  cane,  chestnuts,  chinkapins,  and  cow 
peas — anything  they  can  find;  "No  bread,"  says  a  Negro  cap 
tured — the  road  literally  covered  with  the  che wings  of  the 
Chinese  cane ;  we  track  their  columns  by  it.  Rear  guard  to 
day.  4th  and  i4th  A.  C.  moving  alongside  us  on  an  improvised 
road.  Gen.  Stoneman  rides  past  in  a  private  soldier's  hat  and 
blouse;  very  plain  man.  Camped  near  Villanow. 

iyth.  Did  not  move  until  dusk.  Received  a  large  mail; 
great  rejoicing  over  it — learn  nothing  of  Hood — crossed  mount" 


272  Recollections  of  Pioneer  and  Army  Life. 

ains'and  went  into  camp  in  cornfield.  Gen.  Howard's  order  on 
pillaging. 

1 8th.  Broke  camp  early  and  marched  rapidly — reached 
Chatooga  River;  camp  at  sunset  on  this  stream,  near  Osgood's 
Factory.  Sweet  potatoes  in  abundance — female  operatives — 
our  cavalry  had  severe  skirmish  with  enemy's  rear  guard  at 
the  bridge  here.  Slater's  Ridge  on  our  left — passed  some  fine 
farms  to-day.  Traces  of  rebel  army ;  it  passed  here  on  the  i6th 
and  1 7th.  System  of  foraging  instituted. 

I9th.  Left  Osgood's  Factory  at  daylight.  Marched 
through  Summerville  and  Alpine.  Went  into  camp  at  dusk — 
out  of  rations — hungry — Gen.  Osterhaus — crossed  State  [line 
into  Alabama. 

2oth.  Co.  "C"  brigade  foragers.  Broke  camp  at  7 — Co. 
"F"  rear  guard.  Brigade  inspector  picking  up  stragglers  and 
private  foraging  parties.  Men  in  sweet  potato  patches — old 
man  shouts  to  boy  to  help  him  get  a  few  before  all  are  gone ;  he 
gets  enough  for  one  meal.  Jenkins  shoots  pig;  Gen.  Leggett, 
of  3d  Division,  strikes  him  with  the  flat  of  his  sword ;  men  in 
dignant  at  this.  Camp  early,  two  miles  from  Gaylesville,  Ala. 

2ist.  Supply -train  came  up  last  night — strict  orders 
against  straggling.  Co.  "F"  rear  guard.  Broke  camp  early 
and  moved  into  town — delay — Gen.  Sherman's  headquarters; 
the  general  walking  to  and  fro  before  his  tent,  turning  occasion 
ally  to  members  of  his  staff  to  answer  or  make  an  inquiry. 
Very  warm — move  off  road  one  mile,  and  go  into  camp.  Learn 
that  we  are  to  remain  here  for  two  or  more  days.  Hood  has 
"skedaddled"  for  parts  unknown.  At  this  camp,  Sherman 
said  to  Wilson,  of  the  cavalry:  "I  am  a  smarter  man  than 
Grant;  I  see  things  quicker,  and  I  know  more  about  history; 
but  there  is  this  difference :  as  to  what  is  going  on  behind  the 
enemy's  lines,  Grant  don't  care  a  damn,  while  it  scares  me 
like  hell." 

22d.  Co.  "  E"  foraging.  Lieut.  Winsett  and  I  go  through 
Gap  to  Spring  Valley  to  picket-line  and  get  persimmons  and 


Recollections  of  Pioneer  and  Army  Life.  273 

black  haws — foragers  in  procession,  going  into  camp  loaded. 
Inspection  to-day  at  2  P.  M. 

23d.  Capt.  Geo.  Race  to  see  us  this  P.  M. — informs  us 
that  our  old  brigade  is  close  at  hand. 

24th.  On  picket  with  "F"  at  6  P.  M.  Relieve  Company 
"A"  at  the  mouth  of  Spring  Valley. 

25th.  On  the  picket-line — Parson  Canfield — citizens  wish 
to  go  North  and  ask  rations — appear  at  our  station  hungry — 
give  them  coffee  and  hard-tack — give  me  chestnuts.  Hurley 
wants  to  go  North — has  a  son  in  Illinois — Widow  Hurley  and 
Widow  Banister  want  rations — our  foragers  have  stripped  the 
country.  Mrs.  Martha  Cromar  wants  to  go  North — her  hus 
band  a  prisoner  at  Rock  Island — she  wants  to  meet  him  in 
Illinois  and  remain  there. 

Our  army  has  stripped  this  region  of  its  horses  and  mules, 
grain  and  provisions.  People  are  utterly  destitute.  Parson 
Canfield's  written  appeal  referred.  The  parson  is  a  "Mission 
ary  Baptist." 

26th.  In  camp — read  "History  of  Europe."  Lieuts. 
Woodard  and  McGrath  return  from  furlough.  McKinney's 
furlough  has  expired  also. 

27th.  Gen.  Ransom  very  sick.  Gen.  Jo.  A.  Mower  ar 
rived  yesterday  and  assumed  command  of  division.  Gen. 
Wilson  in  command  of  cavalry. 

28th.  Portion  of  army  marches  to-day.  Reviewed  by 
Maj.-Gen.  Mower  and  Brig.-Gen.  Sprague.  Col.  Lum  and  staff 
present  as  spectators. 

2Qth.  Broke  camp  at  7  —  crossed  Chatooga  River  on 
bridge — our  brigade  rear  guard — pioneers  fell  trees  in  the  ford 
and  bum  bridge  after  us.  Pass  through  village  of  Cedar 
Bluffs  on  the  east  side  of  valley,  under  the  hills.  Cross  Coesa 
River — delays — swampy  country  covered  with  pine  forest — 
trains  have  great  difficulty  in  getting  through.  Capt.  Hemp- 
street,  Division  Provost  Marshal,  thinks  we  will  march  all 
night — darkness — flounder  along  till  10  o'clock  and  camp. 
Draw  rations — sleep  at  n.  Roused  at  4. 


274  Recollections  of  Pioneer  and  Army  Life. 

3oth.  Broke  camp  at  5 — very  dark  yet — halt  for  ord 
nance  train  to  pass.  No  meat  in  supply  train — men  hungry — 
living  on  hard-tack  and  coffee.  Push  on — strike  Rome  road 
about  10  A.  M.  Reach  Cave  Springs — ragged  village — camp 
in  field. 

3 1 st.  Gen.  Ransom  died  within  three  miles  of  Rome, 
on  a  stretcher.  A  fine-looking  young  man — dark  brown  hair, 
hazel  eyes,  tall  and  slender — much  lamented.  Rumor  that 
Perry  Godfrey  was  captured  while  guarding  a  forage  train 
near  Marietta. 

Large  mail  this  P.  M.  Letter  from  Robert  S.  McAllister 
on  Soldiers'  Monument;  also  one  from  Maj.  Wilson.  Papers 
in  abundance.  Col.  Wood  sent  up  an  application  for  the  re 
turn  of  Capt.  Race  to  regiment.  Mustered  to-day.  Adjt. 
Allen  informs  me  of  his  commission  as  major  in  5th  U.  S. 
Colored  Heavy  Artillery,  stationed  at  Paducah.  On  a  stroll 
this  P.  M.  met  a  brigadier- general  and  a  host  of  other  officers 
returning  to  their  commands  from  furlough.  Jno.  F.  Bennett, 
of  "F,"  among  the  number.  Also  Sergt.  Nicholas  Smith,  of 
"E,"  who  brought  us  news  and  letters.  McKinney  does  not 
show  up! 

November  ist.  Indian  summer — hazy  and  blue  and  peace 
ful!  Received  marching  orders  for  3  A.  M.  Broke  camp  at 
7.  Passed  through  village  of  Cave  Springs.  Saw  two  citi 
zens  only — women  at  windows!  Orders  kept  secret — know 
nothing  of  where  we  are  going — thoughts  of  being  paid  soon 
almost  abandoned — moving  southeast — tending  probably  to 
Marietta  or  Atlanta  by  easy  marches — foraging  in  the  valleys 
as  we  go — on  one  spot  at  the  roadside  to-day  noticed  thirty 
hogs  slaughtered,  which  a  foraging  party  had  placed  for  their 
comrades  when  they  should  come  along  in  the  column.  Boys 
in  rear  had  a  few  shots  to-day  at  guerrillas  hovering  around, 
picking  up  stragglers.  Reached  Cedar  Town  at  i  p.  M.,  where 
1 7th  and  isth  A.  C.s  camped — a  deserted,  dilapidated  place. 
Rumor  that  Gen.  Blair  has  returned  from  his  pacificatory 


Recollections  of  Pioneer  and  Army  Life.  275 

tour!  Mountains  beyond  the  valley  south  of  us  loom  grandly 
upon  the  distant  and  indistinct  horizon. 

2d.  Broke  camp  at  8  A.  M. — raining — dreadful  roads — 
train  miring  down — burn  cotton  and  cotton  gins  on  our  way — 
camped  at  a  miserable  place  called  Van  Wirt. 

3d.  Marched  from  Van  Wirt  to  Dallas — our  old  "stamp 
ing  ground."  Severe  march — rained  all  day — prisoners — camp 
at  dusk — rear  guard  got  in  at  3  o'clock  in  the  morning.  Passed 
a  beautiful  slate  quarry  to-day — houses  roofed  with  it  and 
tombstones  cut  from  it. 

4th.  Broke  camp  at  7  and  marched  to  within  seven 
miles  of  Marietta — camped  at  12  M.,  behind  an  old  line  of 
breastworks — showers  this  morning  and  sleet,  afterwards  very 
cold  with  high  wind — read  "  History  of  Europe." 

5th.  Marched  at  8  A.  M.  Reached  the  railroad  four  miles 
below  Marietta,  and  went  into  regular  camp.  Capt.  Pollock, 
Division  Inspector,  seized  all  extra  horses  and  mules  not 
accounted  for. 

6th.  Put  in  estimate  for  clothing — special  order  from 
Gen.  Howard,  stating  that  we  will  remain  in  camp  here  till 
the  army  is  paid  and  clothed  and  till  after  the  Presidential 
election.  Corporal  John  Clover  brought  this  order  to  me  on 
the  picket-line.  Sent  in  list  of  married  men  to  headquarters. 
The  regiment  received  two  hundred  recruits  to-day;  thirty- 
eight  of  these  substitutes  and  drafted  men — assigned  to  Com 
pany  "F" — to  drill  these  men  so  I  can  handle  them  on  the 
eve  of  an  opening  campaign  is  an  arduous  labor. 

7th.  Henry  Post  visits  us  on  picket-line — says  the  troops 
are  being  paid  off!  Great  rejoicing  in  "F"  at  this  news — men 
in  this  company  have  not  been  paid  for  twelve  months,  some 
fourteen  months! 

8th.  Have  all  I  can  do  and  more — no  help — company 
of  eighty-three  men  now,  larger  part  raw  recruits.  Lieut.  Carr 
returns  this  evening  with  desks.  Make  out  and  forward  ord 
nance  returns. 


276  Recollections  of  Pioneer  and  Army  Life. 

9th.  Hard  at  work  organizing  and  drilling  company. 
Had  to  correct  Wolcott's  rolls.  Paid  after  night,  j 

loth.  Received  ist  sergeant's  pay  on  "final  statements." 
Ordered  to  drill  recruits  five  hours  daily.  Everybody  in  a 
great  hurry.  Received  captain's  pay  as  commander  of  Com 
pany  "F"  and  pay  on  rank  as  lieutenant.  Lieut.  Winsett 
was  a  genuine  homespun — a  fine  old  country  gentleman,  one 
of  the  olden  time.  He  was  chosen  to  carry  a  large  sum  of 
money  home  after  the  troops  were  paid,  and  the  load  of  green 
backs  was  so  heavy  and  he  discharged  his  trust  so  faithfully 
that  he  established  a  solid  reputation  as  a  hVinchback,  which 
he  had  not  enjoyed  before,  and  which  was  never  called  in 
question  afterward. 

nth.  Drilling  recruits — issue  clothing — work  enough  to 
do — everything  hurrying  back  from  Atlanta  to  Chattanooga. 

1 2th.  Battalion  drill  to-day — finish  clothing  receipt  rolls. 
Last  train  for  Chattanooga  leaves  to-day!  Lieut.  Winsett  goes 
North  with  the  regiment's  money.  A  large  fortune  in  green 
backs  went  North  in  private  hands  from  the  Army. 

The  stupidity  of  Lieut.-Col.  Mac  Wood  was  well  illus 
trated  on  dress  parade  this  evening.  My  thirty-eight  recruits 
were  in  line  with  the  veterans  of  "F"  and  the  other  troops, 
Wood  in  command.  He  was  putting  the  battalion  through 
the  manual  of  arms,  at  which  the  veterans  were  expert.  My 
recruits  were  as  awkward  as  Satan  among  the  angels  in  Heaven, 
although  I  had  drilled  them  considerably.  They  could  handle 
the  guns  all  right,  but  they  could  not  order  arms  with  neat 
ness  and  dispatch.  Wood  couldn't  see  straight,  being  cross 
eyed,  but  he  could  hear  like  the  Devil,  and  when  the  guns 
of  the  recruits  came  down,  one  would  have  supposed  that 
old  Mac  had  got  religion  (which  indeed  would  have  been  a 
most  extraordinary  supposition),  he  received  such  a  shock — 
calling  out  to  me  to  place  one  of  my  veterans  out  for  a  fugle 
man  and  show  the  green  'uns  how  it  was  done.  The  battalion 
rested  in  silence  while  this  wonderful  interpellation  was  gone 
through  with.  I  had  among  the  recruits  a  slick  youth,  ex- 


Recollections  of  Pioneer  and  Army  Life.  277 

pert  in  the  handling  cf  his  gun,  who  had  belonged  to  the  reg 
ular  Army.  I  answered  the  colonel,  saying:  "Certainly,  I 
will  take  one  of  these  recruits  and  show  you  and  the  rest  of 
these  men  a  little  sleight  of  hand."  My  man  went  to  the 
front  and  did  the  trick  as  though  that  had  been  his  specialty 
for  three  hundred  years.  As  for  Mac  Wood,  I  didn't  care  a 
continental.  He  couldn't  drill  his  own  company,  when  he 
was  captain  of  "A." 

1 3th.  Gen.  Mower  and  Col.  Tillson  inspect  us  this  morn 
ing,  ii  A.  M.  Received  marching  orders.  Left  for  Marietta  to 
tear  up  railroad  track — entered  town — filed  to  left  and  formed 
by  wings  along  the  switches — formed  line  along  railroad  track — 
line  stooped,  put  handspikes  under  track,  heaved  it  over, 
pried  the  ties  loose,  piled  them  up,  put  iron  rails  on  top, 
fired  the  piles,  and  twisted  the  rails  around  trees.  One  hour 
for  supper — Gen.  Mower — work  again  till  10  P.  M. 

1 4th.  Left  camp  at  5.  Got  two  miles  on  our  way  south 
and  were  recalled — went  back  to  Kenesaw  Mountain  and  fin 
ished  tearing  up  a  piece  of  track  which  was  untouched ;  so  care 
ful  were  our  generals  that  the  work  of  destruction  should  be 
complete.  Left  for  Atlanta  "at  i  p.  M.  Marched  till  dusk — 
halt  in  edge  of  woods  and  take  supper.  Resume  the  march. 
Reach  Atlanta  at  9  P.  M. — move  to  Whitehall  and  camp.  At 
lanta  on  fire.  Read  portions  of  "Regulations  to  Recruits"  and 
accompany  it  with  some  advice.  Place  sick  and  lame  in  ambu 
lance — draw  cartridges — broke  camp  at  10  A.  M.  Marched 
half-mile — halt — long  delay — division  supply-train  moved  out 
on  wrong  road;  had  to  wait  for  it — move  forward — come  up 
with  train — rear  guard — seven  wagons  to  company — wearisome 
march  all  night  long — reached  camp  at  9  A.  M. 


THE  MARCH  TO  THE  SEA. 


"HEADQUARTERS  MILITARY  DIVISION  OF  THE  MISSISSIPPI. 
"In  the  Field,  KINGSTON,  GA.,  Nov.  8,  1864. 

"The  General  commanding  deems 'it  proper  at  this  time 
to  inform  the  officers  and  men  of  the  i4th  and  i5th,  iyth  and 
2oth  Corps  that  he  has  organized  them  into  an  army  for  a 
special  purpose,  well  known  to  the  War  Department  and  to 
Gen.  Grant.  It  is  sufficient  for  you  to  know  that  it  involves  a 
departure  from  our  present  base  and  a  long  and  difficult  march 
to  a  new  one.  All  the  chances  of  war  have  been  considered 
and  provided  for  as  far  as  human  agency  can.  All  he  asks  of 
you  is  to  maintain  that  discipline,  patience,  and  courage  that 
has  characterized  you  in  the  past;  and  he  hopes  and  through 
you  to  strike  a  blow  at  our  enemy  that  will  have  a  material 
effect,  what  we  all  so  much  desire — his  overthrow.  Of  all  things 
the  most  important  is,  that  the  men,  during  marches  and  in 
camp,  keep  their  places  and  do  not  scatter  about  as  stragglers 
and  foragers,  to  be  picked  up  by  a  hostile  people  in  detail.  It 
is  also  of  the  utmost  importance  that  our  wagons  should  not  be 
loaded  with  anything  but  ammunition  and  provisions.  All 
surplus  servants,  non-combatants,  and  refugees  should  now  go 
to  the  rear,  and  none  should  be  encouraged  to  encumber  us  on 
the  march.  At  some  future  time  we  will  be  able  to  provide 
for  the  poor  whites  and  blacks  who  escape  the  bondage  under 
which  they  are  now  suffering.  With  the  few  simple  cautions, 
he  hopes  to  lead  you  to  achievements  equal  in  importance  to 
those  of  the  past. 

"By  order  of  MAJ.-GEN.  W.  T.  SHERMAN. 

"L.  M.  DAYTON,  Aide  de  Camp." 


SHERMAN'S  FAREWELL  TO  THOMAS. 


Before  the  telegraph  wire  was  cut,  which  was  the  last  frail 
link  that  bound  us  to  our  friends,  Sherman  sent  this  simple 
message  to  Thomas: 

"All  is  well." 

The  distance  to  be  traversed  was  three  hundred  miles. 
On  leaving  Chattanooga  on  the  Atlanta  campaign,  one  hundred 
and  thirty  carloads  of  provisions  had  to  be  delivered  daily  over 
the  Louisville  &  Chattanooga  Railroad  for  the  use  of  our  army. 
Now  we  had  to  cut  loose  from  the  "cracker-line"  and  "root 
hog  or  die." 

The  army  was  composed  as  follows:  55,329  infantry,  5,063 
cavalry,  1,812  artillerymen,  and  65  guns;  4  teams  of  horses  to 
each  gun,  with  caisson  and  forge;  600  ambulances,  each  drawn 
by  two  horses;  2,500  wagons,  drawn  by  four  mules  to  each. 
Each  man  carried  40  rounds,  the  wagons  having  the  remainder 
of  the  ammunition.  We  had  five  days'  rations  only  when  we 
started.  The  army  was  divided  into  four  corps,  which  marched 
on  parallel  roads,  with  the  cavalry  on  the  flanks.  This  gave 
us  a  front  of  from  forty  to  sixty  miles  and  we  cut  a  swath  of 
that  width  as  we  moved  toward  the  sea. 

The  London  Times  said  of  the  "  March  to  the  Sea,"  in  an 
ticipation  of  that  great  movement:  "That  it  is  a  momentous 
enterprise  cannot  be  denied.  It  may  either  make  Sherman  the 
most  famous  general  of  the  North  or  it  may  prove  the  ruin  of 
his  reputation,  his  army,  and  even  his  cause  altogether." 

i6th.  Having  marched  all  night,  we  rest  two  hours  and 
push  on.  Prisoners — country  rough — poor  farm-houses — thin 
ly  settled — stream — old  mill-house — old  man,  tall  and  gray — 


280  Recollections  of  Pioneer  and  Army  Life. 

old  store-house — two  boys  in  buggy — cotton  burning — getting 
a  little  forage — pork  and  sweet  potatoes — men  jaded  and  silent 
— come  into  fine,  open  country  this  P.  M.  Night — old  man 
watching  his  barn — creek — camp  near  McDonough. 

i yth.  Broke  camp  at  7 — slept  well — village  dingy  and 
weather-beaten — court-house — fine  country — plenty  of  forage — 
march  well  conducted  to-day.  Army  Negro  attempts  to  forage 
a  little  on  farm  on  roadside;  white  woman  gets  after  him 
with  sharp  stick;  boys  shout  and  groan.  Advance  ordered  to 
kill  all  bloodhounds  and  other  valuable  dogs  in  the  country. 
1 5th  A.  C.  behind  us.  Camped  on  beautiful  spot,  near  Jack 
son.  Forty  horses  and  mules  taken  by  our  division  to-day. 

1 8th.  Broke  camp  at  7.  Hear  that  the  Georgia  Militia 
are  assembling  to  stop  our  progress.  Reached  Ocmulgee  River 
at  ii  A.  M.  Halt  in  field  to  right  of  road  while  pontoon  bridge 
is  being  laid.  Dinner — issue  rations — recruits'  feet  very  sore; 
feet  of  all  of  us  sore — plenty  of  forage — burned  cotton — rain — 
night — called  into  line  suddenly;  move -off  partly  by  right  in 
front,  partly  left  in  front — general  confusion — road  blocked  by 
train — swamp — wagon  upset — Ocmulgee  Mills — the  rushing 
river — high,  precipitous  banks — bridge — rapids — lights  reflect 
ed — camp-fires  on  shore  below  and  on  the  distant  hills — across, 
up  to  the  mountains  and  over  an  undulating  country  into  camp, 

19th.  Rained  all  night — -wet  blankets — breakfast — three 
barrels  sorghum  found  in  woods  close  by.  Learn  of  forty 
barrels  more  secreted — Negroes  tell  of  it — two  hundred  bushels 
sweet  potatoes  found  in  one  heap — placed  there  by  "C.  S.  A." 
Recruits  give  me  trouble — in  poor  condition  for  marching — 
get  some  of  them  into  ambulance — burn  cotton  and  gins — 
pass  through  Monticello — pretty  village — citizens — Negroes — 
churches — forage — camp  four  miles  beyond  town. 

2oth.  Broke  camp  at  6 130.  Received  foraging  pass  from 
Lieut. -Col.  Wood  for  two  men  and  sergeant.  Dwellings  burned 
to-day!  Made  first  six  miles  without  a  halt — bad  roads — 
first  specimen  of  the  palmetto  to-day — raining — made  sixteen 
miles — camped  in  open  grassy  field.  Robt.  G.  Bell  brought  in 


Recollections  of  Pioneer  and  Army  Life.  281 

two  fine  horses.  Supper  tonight  on  fresh  pork,  sweet  potatoes, 
sorghum  and  quince  butter!  Cavalry  engaged. 

2 1  st.  Rained  all  night — still  raining — broke  camp  at  9 
A.  M. — slow  progress — burned  cotton — turned  cold  towards 
sunset — high  wind — portion  of  our  army  is  in  Macon,  also  our 
cavalry  in  Milled  geville. 

22d.  Broke  camp  *at  7 — very  cold — reached  Gordon  at 
12  M.  Portion  of  isth  A.  C  in  camp  here.  Went  into  camp — 
rest  this  P.  M.  Bath — change  clothing — engage  Billy  Roberts 
as  forager  for  officers'  mess.^Two  regiments  from  ist  and  2d 
Brigades  detailed  to  tear  up  railroad — cannonading  in  direc 
tion  of  Macon. 

23d.  Clear — frosty — inspection — guns  of  recruits  in  bad 
condition.  This  p.  M.  moved  out  on  M.  R.  R.  and  tear  up 
track — return  at  9  p.  M. 

24th.  Broke  camp  at  7  —  rear  guard  to-day  —  moving 
towards  Savannah — heavy  frost  last  night — clear  and  cool — 
tear  up  railroad  as  we  go!  Louisiana  sugar-cane — get  into 
swamp — miserable  roads — delay — night —  delay — midnight — 
teams  unhitch  and  feed  in  road — orders  to  rest  till  morn 
ing!  Slept  none. 

25th.  Countermarched  at  4  A.  M.  and  took  another  road, 
or,  rather,  no  road — route  through  fields  till  swamps  were 
cleared- — farm-house  and  vats  of  molasses— boys  get  what  they 
want  and  pull  out  the  bungs  and  let  the  contents  run  down 
hill  in  a  stream  for  a  distance!  Black  haws,  persimmons, 
huckleberries!  Cannonading  eastward — Irvington — rice  grow 
ing — Col.  Mac  Wood's  interview  with  three  ladies — their  story 
of  the  pillagers — how  they  received  them.  War  is  "hell"(?) 
Long  and  tedious  march.  Reached  No.  15  Station  after  night 
and  went  into  camp.  Orders  to  march  at  6 130.  Reveille  at  4. 

26th.  Marched  on  time!  Old  man  to  right  of  road — 
arms  folded,  looking  over  his  silent  home  and  desolate  fields! 
Make  four  miles — enter  swamp — obliged  to  turn  back  for  want 
of  road — countermarch  and  go  into  camp  till  Negro  pioneers 
make  road— three  miles  to  rher — pontoons  down  and  part 


282  Recollections  of  Pioneer  and  Army  Life. 

of  1 5th  A.  C.  across.  Our  cavalry  had  a  skirmish  here  yester 
day.  Left  camp  at  sunset  and  marched  to  Oconee  River  and 
crossed — narrow  stream — vista  to  right  converged  in  dark 
ness — clear,  starry  night.  Thoughts  on  Sherman's  movement — 
effect  on  Lee — poor  Confederacy!  Camped  on  high  ground — 
lofty  pine  trees  on  fire  to  their  topmost  boughs! 

27th.  Gen.  Sherman  with  us.  He  signifies  his  intention 
to  move  with  the  right  wing  during  the  remainder  of  the 
march.  Broke  camp  at  6 — swamp — slow  progress  for  the  first 
two  miles— Spanish  moss  as  we  come  upon  high  ground;  the 
country  improves.  Made  nine  miles — portion  of  i5th  A.  C. 
tearing  up  railroad.  Order  from  Gen.  O.  O.  H.  against  pil 
laging,  or  worse — penalty,  death!  Forage  in  great  abundance. 
Old  man  on  roadside  salutes  the  flag!  Indignation  at  allow 
ing  prisoners  to  ride  horses  and  mules  when  the  sick  and 
barefoot  of  our  own  army  can  scarcely  be  accommodated. 

28th.  Broke  camp  at  8.  Slow  progress.  Cotton  burn 
ing — commodious  farm-houses  and  slave  cabins — long  march — 
got  into  camp  late: — on  picket. 

29th.  Broke  camp  at  8.  Forage  in  abundance— large 
farm-houses  with  Negro  quarters.  Bottom  of  shoes  slippery 
as  glass,  marching  on  the  "needles"  in  the  piney  woods! 
Fifteen  miles  to-day. 

3oth.  Relieved  from  picket-line  at  6.  Marching  orders 
for  7.  Pine  barrens  most  of  the  day — reached  to  within  half 
mile  of  Ogeechee  River  at  sunset — supper — crossed  river  after 
night — horrible  place— railroad  station — camp — lost  Jacob  Er- 
tell,  a  worthless  "substitute" — deserted  probably. 

December  ist.  Broke  camp  at  7 — moved  to  railroad  sta 
tion  and  filed  down  track — troops  tearing  it  up — reach  our 
point — tear  up,  burn  and  twist — hard  work — hot  sun — hot 
fires!  Move  on  to  another  point,  tear  up,  burn  and  twist; 
and  still  another  point,  tear  up,  burn  and  twist— getting  our 
hand  in!  It  is  now  3:40  p.  M.  Moved  one  mile  farther  south 
on  track  and  tear  up,  burn  and  twist! 


Recollections  of  Pioneer  and  Army  Life.  283 

Night — march  to  camp  four  miles  distant — crossed  a  hor 
rible  swamp  to  get  there.  Gen.  Sherman  complimented  our 
brigade  upon  its  work  to-day.  Gen.  Fuller  complimented 
Company  "F."  He  might  well  do  so!  Company  "F"  killed 
two  calves  while  rails  were  heating!  The  fatlings  intruded 
and  the  boys,  needing  a  roast,  supplied  their  wants  like  sensi 
ble  fellows! 

Plantations  seen  to-day  were  large  and  well  appointed. 
Slave  cabins,  etc.,  deserted  by  their  owners — hogs  in  abund 
ance — potatoes  also.  Picked  up  an  old  Southern  paper  con 
taining  extracts  from  a  book  of  travels  in  North  America  in 
the  1 8th  century,  written  by  Capt.  Basil  Hall,  of  the  Royal 
Navy.  The  Cockney  captain  travels  in  Georgia  and  dis- 
courseth  as  follows:  "Rain  is  amongst  the  greatest  of  all 
plagues  in  a  journey;  your  feet  get  wet;  your  clothes  become 
plastered  with  mud  from  the  wheels  of  the  carriage;  the  gen 
tlemen's  coats  and  boots  steamed;  the  driver  gets  his  neck 
cloth  saturated  with  water!"  And  further:  "He  could  rarely 
obtain  a  private  parlor  and  table  in  the  country  inns";  he 
was  "often  obliged  to  lie  on  a  feather  bed";  he  carried  with 
him,  indeed,  "one  of  those  admirable  traveling-beds,  made 
by  Mr.  Pratt,  of  Bond  Street,  London,  which  fold  up  in  an 
incredibly  small  compass." 

Three-fourths  of  the  tillable  land  in  the  Confederacy  stood 
with  corn  this  year — the  cribs  from  which  we  get  our  supply 
attest  this  fact.  There  is  no  greater  humbug  than  the  "  starva 
tion  theory."  "Dixie"  can  feed  itself — now — for  the  first 
time  since  the  slave-holder  appeared  on  the  soil. 

Picturesque  swamps — cypress  groves — Spanish  moss  — 
water-lilies — stalk  with  tuft  like  that  on  the  head  of  some 
South  American  birds  —  small  pale  pines  shooting  up  —  the 
counterpart  of  the  human  plants  which  inhabit  these  sickly 
localities.  Gen.  Sherman  and  escort — bad  roads — marching 
rapidly,  however.  No  halts  in  iyth  A.  C.  save  the  accidental 
ones  resulting  from  swamps — bally  for  the  swamps!  Large 


284 


Recollections  of  Pioneer  and  Army  Life. 


tracts  of  land  abandoned,  supposed  to  be  worn  out — covered 
now  with  young  pines. 

Reached  Millen,  an  insignificant  town;  but  an  important 
railway  station.  Rebel  stockade  here,  like  that  at  Anderson- 
ville.  Union  prisoners  hurried  off  to  other  points. 

2d.  Broke  camp  at  9 — marched  down  railroad  three  miles 
and  tear  up,  burn  and  twist — men  bruised  more  or  less — 
marched  to  Scarborough  and  camp.  Negro  pen — Gen.  How 
ard's  orders  relating  to  foraging  and  firing  guns  read  to  regi 
ment  to-day.  Made  eight  miles. 

3d.     Broke  camp  at  daylight — moved  down  railroad  three 

miles  and  tear  up,  burn  and 
twist — twenty  eight  rails 
first— Company  "  F  "-—forty 
rails  second  time.  Moved 
out  to  wagon  road  and  halt 
ed  for  the  foragers  to  bring 
in  their  spoils,  during  which 
Company  "  F  "  killed  a  cow ! 
Preferred  to  take  her  along 
for  fresh  milk,  cream  and 
butter;  being  short  on  dairy 
implements,  accepted  fresh 
"TEAR  UP,  BURN  AND  TWIST."  meat  as  a  substitute 
Cannonading  this  morning,  also  after  getting  into  camp. 
We  are  near  Savannah  Going  into  camp  by  moonlight — 
marching  over  the  white  sands  of  Georgia — the  men  are  silent 
and  tired — for  the  thousandth  time,  more  or  less,  we  are  trudg 
ing  "weary  and  heavy-laden"  into  camp — to  a  hasty  supper, 
a  short  sleep,  the  reveille — the  tocsin  to  new  toils,  continuous, 
unceasing,  interminable (?).  A  large  concourse  of  slaves;  men 
women  and  children  are  following  after  us — the  men  and  boys 
laboring  as  pioneers  I  noticed  them  in  camp  to  the  left  of 
the  road  as  we  came  in — a  strange  but  interesting  picture. 
John  McClintock  arrested  for  firing  his  gun— secured  his 
release 


Recollections  of  Pioneer  and  Army  Life.  285 

4th.  Broke  camp  at  8 — fifty-four  miles  from  Savannah — 
came  up  with  the  enemy — our  division  in  advance — struck 
swamp  where  rebs  were  entrenched — Gen.  Blair — two  shots 
from  our  battery  and  they  "skedaddle" — pushed  ahead  one 
mile  and  camped — sugar  and  molasses  galore — passed  "Uncle 
Billy"  sitting  in  porch  of  farm-house  with  his  heels  over  the 
railing  and  his  big  head  uncovered;  thought  he  was  asleep,  but 
am  not  so  sure  about  that. 

5th.  In  camp  all  day — portion  of  our  army  tearing  up 
railroad.  Lieut.  W.  H.  Carr  placed  under  arrest  for  absenting 
himself  from  the  picket-line — Capt.  Pollock  reported  him. 
Reading  "Edwin  Brothertoft."  Pleasant  day — men  washing 
and  cleaning  up — reported  $2,000  in  gold  and  two  watches 
found  buried,  the  property  of  one  man;  doubtful — pillagers 
foiled.  Coming  uo  to  Negro  cabins,  they  address  a  wench 
with: 

"  What  did  you  hide?" 

"Box  clothes  in  de  field." 

Turning  to  another  standing  near,  they  ask: 

"And  what  did  you  hide?" 

"Books  in  de  garden." 

Boys  believing  the  "half  had  not  been  told,"  started  off  to 
the  garden  with  high  hopes.  They  searched  and  found — a 
Bible  and  a  work  on  medicine. 

Four  men  of  "C"  tied  by  thumbs  in  front  of  color- line  for 
pillaging. 

6th.  Broke  camp  at  9 — slow  progress — rear  division  to 
day — poor  country;  full  of  swamps — had  a  time  getting  our 
train  through — rained — did  not  reach  camp  till  2  A.  M. 

yth.  Broke  camp  at  7 — clear — very  hot — country  poor — 
swamps  covered  with  saw  palmetto — white  clouds  to  south  of 
us  must  hang  over  the  sea.  Marlow  station — locomotive  de 
stroyed — twenty-six  miles  from  Savannah — live  oaks — resi 
dences.  Wheeler  defeated  by^Kilpatrick. 

8th.     Made  ten  miles  to-day  without  incident,  save  cordu- 


286  Recollections  of  Pioneer  and  Army  Life. 

roying  several  miles  of  swamp  and  clearing  the  same  of  trees 
felled  by  the  enemy — heavy  guns  at  sea. 

9th.  Inspection — broke  camp  at  6 — our  division  in  ad 
vance — Sprague's  brigade  ahead,  ours  next.  Strong  sea  breeze 
in  our  faces — dense  pine  forest — prisoners — skirmishing — heavy 
guns  at  sea.  IOA.  M.  One  of  our  batteries  opens — go  into  line 
of  battle  on  the  double-quick — skirmishers  advance — Gen.  Mow 
er — buildings  burning  in  our  rear — we  turn  the  enemy's  right 
— our  regiment  deployed — enemy's  works;  pass  over  them — go 
into  line  of  battle  again — move  forward  on  the  double-quick — 
strike  railroad — discover  locomotive — platform  car;  one  piece 
of  artillery  on  it — advance  through  swamps  and  over  fallen 
trees — through  thickets — over  fences  to  Station  No.  i — enemy 
shell  us — first  shell  bursted  among  us — they  had  our  range  with 
considerable  accuracy,  but  no  one  on  the  line  was  hurt.  The 
long-servce  men  in  Company  "F"  were  Germans,  from  St.- 
Louis;  they  had  not  re-enlisted  as  veterans,  and  their  term  of 
three  years  having  nearly  expired,  they  were  not  anxious  to 
take  risks,  and  wrhen  the  rebel  shells  unexpectedly  dropped 
among  us,  they  disappeared  like  a  covey  of  partridges  in  the 
thick  underbrush,  leaving  me  standing  alone.  The  "presto- 
change"  quickness  of  the  act  amused  me;  but  they  all  returned 
to  the  line  in  a  few  minutes.  Capt.  Hamerick,  Q.  M.,  killed 
some  distance  in  the  rear — $2d  Wis.  lost  a  few  killed  and 
wounded — torpedoes  buried  in  the  road;  Gen.  Sherman  com 
pels  prisoners  to  dig  them  up — eleven  miles  to-day. 

loth.  Rear  guard.  At  10.30  halt  and  stack  arms  at  a 
point  five  miles  from  Savannah.  Enemy  here  in  force — en 
trenched — troops  go  into  line  of  battle ;.  trains  and  non-combat 
ants  ordered  to  rear — four  companies,  "A,"  "  F,"  "G, "  and  "  I," 
ordered  back  as  train  guard ;  rest  of  regiment  in  line  at  the 
front — Lieut.  O'Reilly,  of  Gen.  Mower's  staff,  shot  through  the 
neck;  not  killed — shell  takes  head  off  Negro  and  passes  close  to 
Gen.  Sherman. 

Gen.  Kilpatrick's  headquarters.  The  general — blue  sur- 
tout,  light  blue  trousers,  two  rows  broad  gilt  lace,  medium  size, 


Recollections  of  Pioneer  and  Army  Life.  287 

broad  shoulders,  not  heavy,  but  wiry,  thin  light  hair,  almost 
bald,  sloping  forehead,  heavy  and  full  at  the  brows,  large 
Roman  nose,  light  complexion,  blue  eyes,  broad  mouth,  thin 
lips  well  compressed;  his  staff,  laced;  his  orderlies  and  two 
wench  cooks;  his  nephew  "Billy"  and  the  pigeons;  what  lieu 
tenant  says  of  this  boy;  don't  know  his  place;  insults  every 
body  on  the  staff.  Night — signal  rockets. 

nth.  High  wind  toward  night  and  extremely  cold — sky 
full  of  shaggy  clouds,  hiding  the  moon — rockets — i4th  A.  C. 
moves  in  on  our  front  and  relieves  us — Morgan's  division — old 
friends — troops  out  of  rations — we  move  to-morrow  to  Ossa- 
baw  Sound  to  open  communication  with  fleet. 

1 2th.  Bitter  cold — slept  little — broke  camp  at  6 — on  our 
way  to  the  coast — slow  progress — hard-tack  celling  at  high 
prices — men  hungry  and  the  whole  surrounding  region  stripped 
of  food — roads  very  bad — throughout  the  entire  day  we  scarcely 
made,  between  halts,  more  than  a  few  hundred  yards;  the  de 
lays  were  so  frequent  and  long  that  the  train  often  went  into 
park  and  remained  thus  for  an  hour,  two  hours,  or  more,  as 
would  happen;  occasionally  we  made  a  distance  of  two  miles 
easily,  then  the  wagons  would  mire  to  the  axles;  almost  the 
entire  distance  was  corduroyed  by  our  pioneers;  marched  thus 
all  night  long. 

1 3th.  Crossed  canal  at  8  A.  M.— hear  whistle  of  steam  tug 
on  the  Ogeechee  River.  i5th  A.  C.  in  position;  their  pickets 
engaged.  Reached  camp  at  12  M.  An  occasional  shot  by  our 
artillery — smoke  of  transports  seen  to-day  off  the  coast — we 
are  not  far  from  Silkhope  Station  on  Gulf  Railroad.  Fort  Mc- 
Callaster  stormed  by  Hazen's  division  i5th  A.  C. — it  is  said  that 
Hazen  "drew  cuts"  with  Gen.  Mower  of  our  division  for  the 
chance  of  storming  the  fort.  Gen.  Sherman  with  the  fleet — 
men  living  on  rice,  which  is  issued  to  them  in  the  straw;  it  is 
hulled  by  beating  it  in  a  mortar;  tedious  and  difficult  process; 
the  pestle  for  beating  out  the  rice  is  fastened  to  an  old-style 
well-sweep,  which  we  work  up  and  down.  Transports  at  Hilton 
Head  with  rations  signaled  down. 


288 


Recollections  of  Pioneer  and  Army  Life. 


1 4th.  Trains  moving  to  Ogeechee  River  for  rations- 
oysters  on  the  coast;  men  go  down  for  them — policed  grounds — 
rice  for  breakfast,  dinner,  and  supper;  we  empty  the  camp- 
kettle  at  each  meal. 

1 5th.     Learn  that  our  troops  at  Fort  McCallaster  received 
mail  to-day — anxiety  for  letters — one  transport  said  to  be 
loaded  with  mail  for  us — living  on  rice.     Appointed  one  sergeant 
and  six  corporals  to-day  for  "  F,"  chosen  out  of  the  veterans. 
1 6th.     Got  ration  of  rice  for  men.     2  P.  M.,  received  march 
ing  orders,  the  substance  of 
which  is  to  cross  the  Ogee 
chee  River  and  proceed  for 
ty  miles  west  on  the  Gulf 
Railroad,  tear  up  the  track, 
burn  every  tie,   and    twist 
every  rail  for  that  distance, 
and  destroy  the  bridge 
across  the  Altamaha  River, 
and  return  within  five  days. 
The  force  to  accomplish  this 
consists  of  i  st  Division  iyth 
A.   C.    (ours)   and    Kilpat- 
"TWIST  EVERY  RAIL."  rick's  cavalry. 

Going  towards  the  Ogeechee — passed  hospital  of  isth  A.  C. 
containing  wounded — saw  column  of  prisoners — the  garrison 
captured  at  Fort  McCallaster — looked  like  jail-birds — beautiful 
farm-house — yard;  troops  camped  therein — train  of  wagons 
bearing  our  wounded  men  to  hospitals — Negro  pioneers  and  the 
corduroy  road — immense  labor — best  corduroy  I  ever  saw; 
pinned  down;  very  solid ;  needed,  for  it  rested  on  a  quagmire  or 
quicksand.  Met  wagon-load  of  mail  going  to  camp,  turned  it 
back.  Reach  Ogeechee  River — troops  here — boat-bell — sunset 
— go  into  camp — half-dozen  sacks  mail  brought  us;  great  re 
joicing  over  it — read  letters  and  papers  most  of  the  night — 
learn  that  we  draw  rations  to-night — men  shout  for  hard 
tack;  none  comes;  disappointment — noticed  men  in  the  dark- 


Recollections  of  Pioneer  and  Army  Life.  289 

ness  purloining  the  half -eaten  corn  from  the  mules  to  parch  for 
their  supper. 

iyth.  Broke  camp  at  daylight — crossed  river — heavy  fog 
— country  flat — bog — trees  dripping  with  dew — small  bridge 
broke  through — halt — men  reading  letters — noon  halt — had 
piece  of  half -cooked  sole-leather  beef  for  dinner — marched  rap 
idly  this  P.  M.  in  the  face  of  the  hot  sun — camped  at  Midway 
Church,  a  place  of  Revolutionary  memory — got  a  little  forage 
from  country  this  eve — "Alex"  and  "Billy"  out — eat  supper 
at  midnight — Lieut.  Van  Tuyl  principal  cook — first  good  meal 
in  four  days — had  the  advance  to-day — I  carried  in  my  hand  a 
small  history  of  Georgia,  containing  brief  references  to  fighting 
on  this  ground  during  the  Revolution. 

1 8th.  Broke  camp  at  7 — severe  march — very  hot — came 
into  good  country  —  plantations  large  —  people  wealthy  — 
reached  Walthourville  at  2  p.  M.  ;  a  small,  aristocratic  village, 
situated  in  pine  grove — pretty  churches — residences  vacated; 
everything  left  in  them  save  the  jewels  and  portable  valuables ; 
furniture  and  libraries  intact ;  got  two  books — marched  beyond 
the  village  to  the  railroad  and  went  into  camp — men's  shoes 
giving  out;  some  of  them  barefoot — abundance  of  forage  — 
passed  two  noble  palmetto  trees. 

i gth.  Broke  camp  at  daylight — light  marching  order — 
out  on  railroad — our  work  assigned — Co.  "F"  had  forty-three 
rails  for  the  first  job — marched  two  miles  further  down  track 
to  Walthourville  Station  and  tore  up  twenty-six  rails — returned 
to  camp  by  circuitous  route  through  woods.  Evening — sea 
breeze  in  our  faces — sunset — night  when  we  got  into  camp. 
Heard  Kilpatrick  canonading  at  the  Altamaha  bridge ;  learn 
that  he  can  do  nothing  on  account  of  the  high  water  —  sur 
rounding  country  flat  and  overflowed. 

2oth.  ist  Brigade  sent  to  reinforce  cavalry  at  Altamaha 
bridge;  on  their  way  met  cavalry  coming  back,  having  failed 
to  burn  the  bridge,  which  was  surrounded  by  water  and  de 
fended  by  cavalry  and  a  battery  strongly  entrenched.  Our 
work  completed,  we  started,  after  some  delay,  for  the  Ogeechee 


290  Recollections  of  Pioneer  and  Army  Life. 

River — reached  Midway  Church  at  sunset  without  incident — 
brought  in  quite  a  train  of  carriages,  carts,  and  buggies  loaded 
with  forage — met  our  supply-train  here  with  rations — hard 
tack  issued. 

The  ancient  vehicles  which  the  foragers  picked  up  and 
loaded  with  sustenance  for  the  inner  man  were  a  prize  lot;  they 
were  the  skeleton  remains  of  carriages  of  state,  in  which  milord 
and  ladies  rode  to  the  society  functions  of  the  Oglethorpe  and 
earlier  periods.  Imported  they  were,  and  had  descended 
through  heraldic  lineages  from  a  time  remote.  The  worm  had 
eaten  up  what  the  wear  and  tear  of  prehistoric  man  had  left 
of  the  upholstery.  There  was  a  blear  of  a  film  on  the  wood 
work,  and  the  tackling  and  the  once  gilded  metal  fastenings 
and  furnishings  were  of  a  unique  and  strange  pattern.  I 
marked  the  vehicle — the  family  carryall — in  which  Adam  and 
Eve  rode  out  to  see  the  new  homestead;  the  road  wagon  in 
which  Noah  rode  around  to  look  at  the  country  after  the 
freshet;  the  State  chariot  of  Nebuchadnezzar,  in  which  Shad- 
rach,  Meshach,  and  Abednego  took  their  revenge  on  that  po 
tentate  after  he  was  sent  to  grass  by  yoking  him  with  his  mate 
and  using  the  pair  to  draw  them  and  a  brass  band  through  the 
crowd  of  anarchists  holding  high  old  wassail  in  the  Hanging 
Gardens;  and  all  the  lumbering  things  on  wheels  that  gave  sig 
nificance  to  the  later  succeeding  centuries  down  to  our  time. 

2ist.  Broke  camp  at  6  A.  M. — reached  Ogeechee  River  at 
12  M. — bad  roads — learn  here  that  Savannah  was  evacuated  by 
the  enemy  last  night — reached  old  camp  at  3  P.  M. — hear  of 
Thomas'  fight  with  Hood  at  Franklin  and  Nashville ;  bully  for 
"Pap"  Thomas!  On  picket  "F"  and  "E." 

When  Gen.  Sherman  presented  the  city  of  Savannah  to 
President  Lincoln  as  a  Christmas  gift  in  the  winter  of  1864,  he 
restored  to  its  honored  place  under  the  flag  one  of  the  most 
interesting  cities  of  the  Colonial  period.  Two  centuries  prior 
to  the  investment  of  the  city  by  our  army,  the  Creek  chief 
Tomochichi,  then  ninety  years  old,  welcomed  to  the  Georgia 
shore  "the  first  soldier  and  gentleman  of  his  day,"  Gen.  Ogle- 


Recollections  of  Pioneer  and  Army  Life.  291 

thorpe.  That  old  Indian  friend  of  the  founder  of  the  city  was 
buried  in  the  center  of  the  public  square,  and  a  huge  boulder 
with  a  memorial  medallion  imbeded  in  the  side  marks  the 
spot.  The  names  of  the  streets  suggest  loyalty  to  the  Union: 
State,  Congress,  President;  the  avenues:  Montgomery,  Perry, 
McDonough;  the  wards  were  named  Washington,  Warren, 
Franklin,  and  Greene.  The  lots  were  platted  60x90  feet  and 
fronted  upon  a  street  both  ways. 

The  city  contains  a  monument  to  Gen.  Greene,  to  Sergt. 
Jasper  (the  historic  idol  of  my  youth),  and  to  Count  Pulaski, 
the  "heroic  Pole."  The  Marquis  de  Lafayette  laid  the  corner 
stone  of  the  two  last  in  1825. 

While  our  army  rested  on  the  Thunderbolt  River  near  by, 
I  studied  the  city  with  great  interest,  not  omitting  the  Colonial 
burial-ground.  On  south  Broad  Street  stands  the  old  house 
where  the  Colonial  Legislature  assembled  in  1782  and  the"house 
where  Washington  was  entertained  and  which  was  his  head 
quarters  while  in  the  city  is  still  an  object  of  interest  to  all 
visitors. 

I  attended  services  in  Christ  Church,  where  John  Wesley 
and  Whitfield,  the  great  evangelists,  both  preached,  and  the 
tradition  is  that  Wesley  was  an  irascible  old  English  gentleman, 
who  ruled  his  parishioners  with  the  "big  stick." 

22d.  High  wind — cold — on  picket — relieved  at  5  p.  M.  by 
two  companies  of  32d  Wis. 

23d.  Sun  rose  like  a  queen  from  the  sea — morning  gun  at 
Fort  Jackson — along  with  Lieut.  Van  Tuyl,  spent  the  day  in 
making  a  house ;  made  a  good  one — bought  a  table  from  one  of 
26th  and  put  it  in  place.  Evening,  received  orders  to  march  to 
Savannah  at  8  A.  M. 

24th.  Broke  camp  at  8  A.  M. — reb  works — heavy  artillery 
— shell  road — cemetery — inner  fortifications — forts — our  troops 
encamped  in  the  suburbs  of  the  city — penitentiary — poor-house 
- — Forsythe  Place— its  fountains  and  groves — citizens — Negroes 
— account  of  the  evacuation,  some  drowned  in  the  hurry  to 
cross  the  bridge.  Marched  three  miles  south  of  town  and  went 


292  Recollections  of  Pioneer  and  Army  Life. 

into  camp  near  the  fort  and  town  of  Thunderbolt — Fort  Jackson 
three  miles  distant — Thunderbolt  River  close  at  hand. 

25th.  Christmas — putting  up  house— visited  Thunderbolt 
— "pressed"  a  table  from  a  deserted  house — borrowed  a  stool, 
and  paid  $i.ooto  an  Irish  oysterman's  wife  for  another  table. 
Monitors  anchored  in  the  river — transports  in  the  distance — 
inspection.  Commenced  clothing  receipt  rolls  by  candlelight. 
Lieut.  R.  H.  Mann  mustered  out. 

26th.  At  work  on  clothing  receipt  rolls— had  them  signed 
and  witnessed. 

27th.  At  work  on  ordnance  returns.  Lieut.  Mann  left 
for  New  York  city.  Order  received  for  review  to-morrow — 
Gen.  Sherman  will  review  his  entire  army  at  the  rate  of  one 
A.  C.  each  day. 

28th.  Roused  at  4.  Lightning  low  on  eastern  horizon — 
sky  overcast — every  indication  of  stormy  weather.  Left  camp 
for  Savannah  for  review  at  6  A.  M.  Commenced  raining  heav 
ily  as  we  entered  the  suburbs  of  the  city — formed  line  on 
lower  end  of  South  Broad  Street — delay — rain — delay — rain — 
black  servant  steps  out  of  a  residence  close  by  and  invites  us 
in — pouring  rain — Capt.  Gillespie,  Adjt.  Allen,  Lieut.  McGrath 
and  I  go  in  with  the  servant.  Conversation — black  grand- 
dame — her  courtesy — coffee — rain — "wringing- wet."  Return 
to  camp — review  postponed — work  on  papers — night — high 
wind — cold.  Death  of  McMeems — write  to  his  friends  and 
enclose  letter  of  chaplain. 

29th.  Clear  and  cold — drums — air  thick  with  rumors — 
signs  of  orders  and  marches — ask  for  information — none  able 
to  answer.  Will  we  be  reviewed  to-day?  Nobody  knows. 
Troops  moving  out.  ist  Brigade  moves  to  town  for  review. 
We  receive  no  orders — Capt.  Carr,  over  from  division  head 
quarters,  informs  us  of  review — no  orders  still — everybody 
drunk  at  brigade  headquarters — order  arrived  there  from  di 
vision,  but  too  drunk  to  read  it!  Order  finally  received- 
fall  in  and  march  to  town — form  line  same  as  yesterday — 
cold — delay — citizens — city  papers — Gen.  Morgan — i6th  and 


Recollections  of  Pioneer  and  Army  Life.  293 

6oth  officers — Col.  Tillson  and  my  article  on  "Wallace  W. 
Rice."  Wishes  me  to  describe  "Buenaventura."  Wishes  ar 
ticle  on  "  W.  W.  Rice"  sent  to  his  wife — delay — McGrath  and 
I  visit  dock — reviewed  in  Exchange  Place — great  crowd — 
Gen.  Slocum  and  Gen.  Sherman  and  staffs — Pulaski  Monu 
ment — return  to  camp  at  3  p.  M. 

3oth.  At  work  on  papers.  Visit  "Buenaventura"  with 
Lieut.  Lewis  W.  Van  Tuyl.  Night— C.  B.  S.  mustered— 
turn  "F"  over  to  him — feel  relieved. 

3 1  st.  Mustered  this  morning — at  work  on  papers.  This 
work  completed,  my  connection  with  Company  "F"  will  cease. 
I  wiL  receive  commander's  pay.  and  such  consolation  as  fol 
lows  duty  faithfully  performed. 

John  Charles  Fremont,  the  first  Republican  candidate  for 
President,  was  born  in  this  town. 

1865. 

January  ist.  New  Year — get  pass  and  attend  church  in 
city — Independent  Presbyterian — pleased  with  services — Gen. 
Sherman  and  staff  present — visit  city — oyster  supper. 

ON  OCEAN  TRANSPORTS  TO  BEAUFORT,  S.  C. 

2d.  With  my  own  company  again — go  on  picket  with  it. 
Guard  mount  at  Gen.  Mower's  headquarters.  Met  Col.  Till 
son.  His  compliment  on  the  manner  in  which  I  had  conducted 
Company  "  F. "  I  made  no  response.  Pleasant  day.  Night — - 
troops  cheering— Lieuts.  Shaw  and  Woodard  visit  us  on  the 
picket-line  with  an  appeal  for  signatures  on  Lieut.-Col.  Mac 
Wood's  case.  Wood  is  an  ignoramus  and  Tillson  a  plotter, 
as  the  surgeons  say,  by  "first  intention."  He  plotted  against 
Col.  James  D.  Morgan  at  Mound  City,  and  through  all  the 
years  of  the  service  afterward.  He  was  shallow  enough  to 
suppose  that  while  he  flattered  he  deceived  me — never  for  a 
moment  on  any  point!  He  affected  poetry,  and  died  an 
inebriate. 


294  Recollections  of  Pioneer  and  Army  Life. 

3d.  Early  breakfast  brought  us  by  Aleck — troops  have 
marching  orders— going — iyth  and  isth  A.  C.s — to  Beaufort, 
S.  C.,  on  ocean  transports.  Relieved  from  picket — go  to 
camp  and  pack  up  baggage. 

2  P.  M.  March  to  Thunderbolt  to  embark.  Troops  going 
aboard — Gen.  Sherman  in  neat  fatigue  suit,  white  vest,  talk 
ing  to  naval  officers  on  board  transport,  anchored  in  middle 
of  river.  Tars  row  the  General  from  one  vessel  to  another — 
transports  leaving — General  aboard  salutes  General  Sherman, 
who  waves  his  hat  in  return.  32d  Wis.  and  loth  111.  go  aboard 
one  vessel — men  crowded — officers  comfortable — nigtit — offi 
cers  drinking — went  to  bed  early — steamer  did  not  leave  her 
anchorage  till  late  in  the  night.  The  embarkation  was  an 
animated  scene. 

4th.  Emerge  from  the  Sound  into  open  sea  at  9  A.  M. 
Reach  Hilton  Head  at  12  M. — did  not  stop — reached  Beaufort 
at  3  p.  M.  Moved  out  to  camp  two  miles  from  town.  The 
trip  up  Beaufort  Bay  is  a  delightful  memory. 

5th.  Mess  out  at  Negro  huts  after  oysters — get  them 
after  dinner — big  stew — Aleck  in  town  to-day.  Move  camp 
this  eve — go  back  few  hundred  yards  on  higher  ground — cold 
and  windy. 

6th.  I  and  Howard  go  to  town.  Call  at  commissary 
department  and  make  requisition  for  mess.  Meet  Ed  eating 
cheese— isn't  going  to  camp  until  he  spends  all  his  money! 
Get  an  Atlantic  Monthly — see  Sam  Cooley — artist — cour 
tesy  of  himself  and  wife — his  coast  views  very  beautiful — 
arsenal — dinner  at  Beaufort  Hotel.  Gen.  Saxton  and  wife — 
returned  to  camp.  Line  officers  met  at  Col.  T.'s  headquarters 
and  elected  Capt.  Gillespie  to  the  majority  -vice  Wilson. 

7th.  Majority  of  mess  go  to  town  on  mules!  Tillson 
having  placed  Gillespie  in  line  of  advancement,  he  will  succeed 
to  the  lieutenant- colonelcy  as  soon  as  Wood  is  out  of  the 
way,  an  event  anticipated  daily.  Gillespie  gave  a  champagne 
blow-out  this  evening. 


Recollections  of  Pioneer  and  Army  Life.  295 

8th.  Company  inspection  —  received  sanitary  goods  — 
edibles. 

9th.  Completed  papers  —  drilled  company.  Went  to 
town  and  mailed  "The  Republican  Court."  Negro  soldiers 
abused  by  white  ones — white  soldiers  drunk — bought  clothing 
at  post  quartermaster's — officers  drunk — returning  to  camp,  met 
Burns  with  "D"  going  into  serve  as  provost  guard. 

loth.  Send  note  to  Plaindealer.  Wrote  to  Robt.  Moir 
on  loss  of  subscription  to  Soldiers'  Monument.  Wrote  to  Maj. 
Kelly  on  pay.  It  seems  that  the  company  subscription  of  five 
hundred  dollars  to  the  Soldiers'  Monument  has  been  inter 
cepted  and  squandered — consider  how  it  may  be  recovered. 

nth.  Learn  that  Lieut.-Col.  Wood  will  be  mustered  out 
to-morrow.  Old  Mac  was  a  failure  in  some  respects;  but  he 
was  not  a  coward. 

CAMPAIGN  THROUGH  THE  CAROUNAS. 

1 2th.  Received  marching  orders  for  to-morrow.  In  town 
with  Lieut.  Hankey — charming  view  of  the  Bay — Gen.  How 
ard's  headquarters.  Col.  Wood  in  Beaufort — a  citizen — drank 
his  health  in  a  glass  of  wine — good-bye.  Took  dinner  with 
Burns  and  Howard,  isth  A.  C.  landing  from  transports — 
recruits — substitutes — drafted  and  furloughed  men  of  both 
A.  C.s  coming  in  from  Nashville— eleven  days  on  the  road — 
McKinney  not  among  them. 

i3th.  Muster-roll  for  "F."  Broke  camp  at  5  p.  M.  and 
marched  seven  miles — did  not  get  off  the  island — went  into 
camp  near  estuary. 

1 4th.  Broke  camp  at  daylight — delay — move  out  upon 
causeway  and  over  pontoons — vessels  in  the  far  blue  distance 
at  sea!  Cannon  shot — skirmish  in  advance — drove  the  enemy 
before  us  all  day — went  into  camp  after  night  inside  old  en 
trenchments  of  the  enemy — heavy  cannonading — marsh  grass 
on  fire— had  to  burn  a  ring  around  our  bed  to  prevent  burn 
ing  out  during  sleep. 


296  Recollections  of  Pioneer  and  Army  Life. 

1 5th.  Broke  camp  at  7 — passed  through  two  lines  of 
heavy  earthworks,  old  and  grass-grown — Negroes  inform  us  the 
enemy  left  our  front  at  midnight — reached  Pocotaligo  Station 
on  P.  R.  &  A.  Railroad  at  10  A.  M. — camp  on  low  ground  on 
south  side  of  railroad — rebel  winter  quarters — learn  that  Fos 
ter's  troops,  Capt.  James'  command,  five  miles  distant — loth 
111.  and  27th  Ohio  ordered  out  with  foraging  train  this  P.  M. — 
Heyward  Mansion;  its  destruction — books — furniture — pict 
ures — musical  instruments — bust  of  Calhoun — New  York  Her 
alds.  This  was  the  summer  dwelling  in  the  piney  woods  of  a 
prominent  family,  a  class  in  touch  with  Northern  traitors 
through  the  spy  system,  by  which  they  were  supplied  with 
medicines  and  the  daily  papers,  etc.,  etc.  Our  soldiers  smashed 
the  piano  with  the  butts  of  their  muskets  while  the  wagons 
loaded  with  forage. 

i6th.     Reading  B.  T- 's  "India,  China,  and  Japan." 

i7th.  Reading — ride  with  Woodard  into  country — plan 
tation-cemetery — "  No  common  dust  lies  here, "  etc. 

Maj.  Screven's  plantation — Gregory's — letter  from  Maj. 
Wilson — death  of  Gid.  H.  Ayres  at  the  head  of  his  colored  com 
pany  in  the  battle  of  Nashville.  Beaufort  and  vicinity  was  dis 
tinguished  before  the  war  for  its  wealthy  slave-holders  and 
their  aristocratic  pretensions,  illustrated  by  the  above  line, 
copied  from  one  of  their  tombstones. 

1 8th.  Clear — nights  cold — heavy  frost — inspection  at  i 
p.  M. — prepare  "Buenaventura"  for  Plaindealer. 

1 9th.  Circular  of  Gen.  H.  announcing  capture  of  Fort 
Fisher — received  marching  orders  for  to-morrow. 

2oth.  Broke  camp  at  daylight — moved  out  on  Ridgeville 
road— struck  the  enemy's  cavalry  soon  after  leaving  our  out 
posts;  drove  him  four  miles— only  our  division  out — aim  to 
capture  a  battery  and  its  support — made  a  flank  movement, 
during  which  rebs  decoyed  and  nearly  surrounded  a  small  force 
of  our  cavalry;  prevented  by  our  infantry — struck  river  in  our 
flank  movement;  attempted  to  bridge  it;  swollen  by  recent 
floods;  failed — rained  continuously — waded  in  water  to  our 


Recollections  of  Pioneer  and  Army  Life.  297 

knees — very  cold — returned  to  Ridgeville  and  camped — got 
comfortably  settled,  when  we  were  ordered  back  to  Pocotaligo — 
got  into  old  camp  after  night — found  my  old  friend  Capt.  James, 
33d  U.  vS.  (colored),  at  my  tent;  pleased  to  meet  him  —  camp 
flooded  with  water — sick — no  rest. 

2ist.  In  company  with  Capt.  James,  called  on  Colonel  T. 
— mounted  and  returned  with  the  captain  as  far  as  the  Hudson 
Plantation,  the  scene  of  Col.  Terry's  fight,  leading  colored  troops 
against  the  enemy;  won  his  first  star  here. 

22d.  Troops  tearing  up  railroad — our  regiment  moved 
east  in  direction  of  Charleston  and  tore  up  one  mile  of  track — 
rebel  battery  shell  us — Pocotaligo  Station,  on  P.  R.  &  A.  Rail 
road — in  the  station  building  I  examined  a  mass  of  private 
papers  left  by  rebels  in  their  flight — some  curious  deeds  to 
realty  signed  by  King  George  III. 

23d.  "  E"  and  "K"  on  picket  at  9  A.  M. — reading  history 
of  Georgia — Gen.  Fuller  returned  from  furlough — what  has 
become  of  McKinney? 

24th.     Dried  blankets — clear — high  wind — reading. 

25th.  Mounted  and  rode  down  to  Capt.  James'  regiment 
at  Hudson's  Plantation — met  Negroes  who  informed  me  that 
Gen.  Hatch's  troops  had  crossed  the  Tilufinny — resolve  to  go 
on — pass  Gens.  Potter  and  Hatch — reach  works  of  colored 
troops;  deserted,  save  by  section  of  3d  R.  I.  battery — see  from 
this  point  the  new  camp  across  the  river— shipping  in  the  estu 
aries — leave  mule  under  the  Negro  guards  and  cross  river  in 
boat  with  squad  of  soldiers. 

In  Capt.  James'  tent  I  was  ill  at  night  from  ptomaine 
poisoning,  caused  by  something  I  had  eaten ;  sick  now  for  two 
days  with  intermittent"  attacks;  but  for  strong  camp  coffee,  I 
had  fared  worse. 

26th.  Up  with  the  sun — breakfast — recross  river  and  re 
turn  to  Pocotaligo — found  division  gone;  overtake  it— returned 
to  old  camp — :found  Lieut.  Winsett  in  camp ;  learn  from  him  of 
the  interception  of  the  Soldiers'  Monument  fund  by  McKinney. 


298  Recollections  of  Pioneer  and  Army  Life. 

27th.  Arranged  with  Capt.  Kellogg,  division  command 
er,  for  getting  grub  for  officers'  mess  on  credit — learn  that  our 
campaign  opens  on  the  3oth  inst. — trains  loading  with  supplies, 
and  sick  and  disabled  returned  to  Beaufort,  also  extra  baggage 
— packed  a  box  of  books  and  papers  and  sent  to  rear— Capt. 
Race  reported  for  duty.  This  officer,  one  of  the  most  efficient 
in  our  organization,  but  detached  on  Gen.  James  D.  Morgan's 
staff,  is  a  valuable  and  much-needed  acquisition. 

28th.     Prepared  "Buenaventura"  article  for  Plaindealer. 

29th.  Capt.  James  and  adjutant  of  33d  (colored)  called — 
1 5th  A.  C.  moving  to  front— marching  orders  for  7  to-morrow. 

During  one  of  my  father's  semi-annual  visits  to  the  city  of 
New  York  for  the  purchase  of  merchandise,  a  Sunday  call,  in 
1854,  at  the  old  Five  Points  Mission,  resulted  in  an  acquaint 
ance  with  Mr.  Pease,  the  famous  superintendent,  one  of  whose 
first  and  best  aims  was  to  find  friends  for  the  friendless  and 
homes  for  the  homeless  who  found  a  temporary  asylum  at  the 
mission.  Merchants  of  character  and  repute  from  the  West 
were  seized  upon  with  avidity  by  Mr.  Pease  in  behalf  of  the 
boys  and  girls  in  his  charge.  In  this  way  Capt.  William  James, 
a  youth  of  fifteen  or  thereabouts,  from  Kilkenny,  Ireland,  came 
West  to  grow  up  with  the  country.  This  alert,  active  son  of 
the  soldier  race  throve  sturdily  under  this  transmigration ;  the 
human  plant  rooted  readily  in  the  new  soil  and  grew  apace. 
He  absorbed  a  knowledge  of  business  methods,  schooled  him 
self  fairly  well  in  the  common  branches,  became  active  in  the 
"Wide-Awake"  Presidential  campaign  of  1860,  entered  the 
Union  Army  in  1861,  and  rose  from  a  sergeant  in  my  regiment 
to  a  captaincy  in  the  "First  South  Carolina  Colored  Troops," 
afterwards  numbered  by  the  Government  the  "33d  U.  S.  Col 
ored."  He  survives  in  comfortable  circumstances,  a  substantial 
citizen  of  Jacksonville,  Fla. 

3Oth.  Broke  camp  at  7  and  moved  out  on  Ridgeville  road 
to  point  near  Combahee  River  and  camped.  Reading  "Oliver 
Twist." 


Recollections  of  Pioneer  and  Army  Life.  299 

3 1 st.  This  p.  M.,  veterans  of  "F"  were  sent  to  rear  and 
mustered  out,  their  three  years'  service  having  expired— march 
ing  orders  for  6  A.  M.  to-morrow. 

February  ist.  Broke  camp  at  6  A.  M.  Our  division  in 
advance.  Soon  struck  the  enemy.  Negro  informed  us  that 
they  were  simply  the  rebel  outposts  of  two  hundred  cavalry. 
They  felled  trees  across  the  road,  which  our  pioneers  quickly 
removed ;  they  also  erected  rail  barricades  every  two  miles, 
from  behind  which  they  did  their  shooting  on  our  advance. 
Drove  easy.  Came  to  deep  swamp  at  3  p.  M. — very  difficult 
to  cross— had  severe  skirmish  here — captain  on  Gen.  Howard's 
staff  severely  wounded  through  the  neck — detained  here  till 
dusk — crossed,  single  file,  on  poles — precarious  footing.  En 
camped  half-mile  from  swamp.  Pack -mule  and  trains  came 
over  after  night.  Made  twelve  miles — weather  clear — country 
more  hilly  than  expected.  Passed  one  fine  large  plantation 
which  was  deserted— our  men  burned  the  buildings — large 
quantities  of  chinaware  of  superior  quality  found  buried  in 
the  earth  and  destroyed — shame ! 

2d.  3d  and  4th  Divisions,  not  getting  across  swamp  last 
eve,  could  not  take  the  advance,  and  we  took  the  lead  again — 
3d  Brigade  (ours)  in  advance  of  Division,  25th  Ind.  skirmish 
ers.  Met  the  enemy  two  miles  out.  Severe  skirmishing — 
killed  four  rebs — wounded  a  number.  Had  some  officers  and 
men  wounded .  Burned  plantations.  Enemy  drove  hard — delay 
— form  line  of  battle — bury  rebel  dead — Gens.  H.,  B.  and  M. 
close  by.  Move  in — delay  where  roads  fork — take  left  road — 
Gen.  Mower  pushes  things — heavy  skirmishing — saw  gih  111. 
Mounted  Infantry  make  a  charge — brilliant — rebs  fled  precip 
itately.  Lieutenant-colonel  on  Howard's  staff  wounded  in  leg. 
Reach  an  open  field — halt — form  line  of  battle — send  three 
companies  from  our  regiment  to  relieve  the  skirmishers  of 
25th  Ind.  Cannonading  to  our  right.  2oth  and  i4th  A.  C.s 
said  to  be  not  far  distant.  Night — bivouac — water  hard  to 
obtain — forage  in  abundance.  Mulatto  girl  presented  herself 
at  our  camp-fire  to-night — wanted  to  cook  for  our  mess.  Colo- 


300  Recollections  of  Pioneer  and  Army  Life. 

nel  436  Ohio  wounded  in  leg  to-day.  Adjutant  of  25th  Wis  ' 
head  shot  off  by  shell.  We  are  now  on  the  shore  of  the  Salka- 
hatchie— enemy  entrenched  on  the  other  side — swamps  wide 
and  deep  intervene. 

3d.  Our  division  in  advance — broke  camp  at  6 — moved 
up  road  parallel  to  river  one  mile — delay — blocked  up  in 
road— raining — deep  mud — on  causeway — swamp  on  either 
side  of  us — Gen.  Mower  standing  in  the  midst — detachments 
carrying  boards  and  laying  a  sort  of  bridge  over  the  swamp 
to  left  of  road  to  reach  the  bank  of  the  river.  Cannonading 
to  our  right — soldiers  on  a  limited  dry  spot  to  right  of  road, 
washing  and  joking.  Move  to  left,  descending  into  a  dismal 
swamp.  25th  and  324  went  in — our  regiment  moves  on  up 
causeway  and  suddenly  quit  the  road,  entering  the  swamp 
to  the  right — plunge  into  water — through  deep  tangled  wild- 
wood — a  maze  of  poisonous  vines  and  cypress  stumps — water 
ankle -deep — knee -deep — thigh-deep  and  bitter  cold.  Slow  and 
tedious — reach  river — relieve  63d  pickets — glimpses  of  rebel 
fort  one  hundred  yards  distant — rebel  flag — our  pickets  en 
gaged — we  reconnoitre — Capt.  Gillespie  thinks  the  enemy  can 
be  easily  driven  away  and  his  artillery  captured !  He  sends 
word  to  this  effect  to  Col.  Tillson,  who  is  with  the  25th  and  32d 
on  the  left  of  the  causeway.  Sergt.  Tom  Cook  acting  as  orderly 
for  Gillespie.  Send  detail  to  brigade  wagon  for  axes — ten 
men  of  "E"  fell  trees  across  river  for  the  purpose  of  crossing 
our  men.  Phil  Lent,  stretcher-bearer  of  "D,"  killed.  "E" 
out  on  skirmish -line.  Prvt.  Silas  W.  Goulden  just  ahead  of 
me  wounded  in  breast  and  arm — sent  him  to  the  rear — Willis 
Nelson  near  the  same  spot  had  his  clothing  pierced  on  the 
tip  of  right  shoulder.  Companies  "K"  and  " G "  cross  stream — 
Booth  wounded — Capt.  Wilson  of  "G"  also.  One  of  'F" 
killed.  One  of  "C"  mortally  wounded.  Jacob  Rust  and  Wil 
liam  Tweed  of  "E"  wounded.  Casualties  in  other  companies 
also.  Rebel  artillery  opens,  sweeping  the  causeway  to  our 
left.  Our  boys  pour  their  volleys  into  the  rebel  fort,  and 
drive  the  rebel  gunners  away  from  their  pieces.  A  few  of 


Recollections  of  Pioneer  and  Army  Life.  301 

436  Ohio  hoys  assist  us.  Rain — dusk — troops  to  left  of  cause 
way  cross  the  river  in  force — flank  the  enemy's  works — we 
advance  from  the  front — rebs  evacuate — fly  in  confusion,  leav 
ing  their  dead  and  many  prisoners  in  our  hands,  also  clothing 
and  knapsacks — among  them  four  cavalrymen  of  3ist  S.  C. 
We  occupy  the  enemy's  works — Gen.  Howard  and  captain  of 
staff  arrives:  " Can  you  tell  me  how  you  got  it ?"  "By  mak 
ing  it  too  hot  for  "em."  Shook  my  hand  heartily.  I  was 
placed  in  charge  of  prisoners — talk  with  a  rebel  ordnance  ser 
geant  and  his  comrades — they  live  in  Savannah — anxious  to 
return  to  their  allegiance  and  homes.  Cavalryman  of  3d  S.  C. 
in  Yankee  uniform — Gen.  Mower  asks  permission  of  Gen.  H. 
to  hang  him.  Night — troops  go  into  camp — relieved  from 
duty  with  prisoners — supper — dry  clothing — boys  gathered  up 
some  rebel  officers'  uniforms — get  from  pockets  machine  poetry 
and  letters.  Loss  of  regiment  to-day,  26  killed  and  wounded. 
Gen.  Mower  fell  into  river — pulled  out  by  Capt.  De  Grass. 
Buried  our  dead  on  a  little  elevation  in  the  swamp. 

4th.  Our  regiment  left  camp,  light  marching  order,  with 
forage  train  at  8  A.  M.  Met  4th  Division  coming  in — Gen.  G. 
A.  Smith,  Gen.  Potts  and  Gen.  Belknap  (Secretary  of  War 
under  Grant),  the  latter  with  his  saddle  hung  thick  with  chick 
ens!  Boys  laugh  at  his  Shanghais — he,  a  big,  burly,  sandy- 
whiskered  fellow,  smiled  and  said:  "Boys,  you  're  only  mad 
because  you  haven't  got  'em!"  Found  rebel  artillery  ammuni 
tion  strewn  along  the  route  of  retreat  of  the  enemy  last  night — 
had  to  lighten  his  load  to  get  away.  People  along  the  road 
said  the  rebel  forces  were  going  their  last  cent  on  their  legs 
as  they  passed  on  the  double-quick  at  an  early  hour  last  even 
ing.  Halt  at  old  lady's — "seventy-odd" — palsied — her  com 
plaints — gave  her  a  guard — moved  on  a  mile — rich  reb,  four 
sons  in  rebel  Army — load  wagons  with  corn — boys  fill  canteens 
with  molasses  and  haversacks  with  peanuts — kraut — the  fam 
ily — a  scene — group  on  porch — cotton-gin  and  buildings  burn 
ing — tears.  Ambulance  gone  back  to  Beaufort  with  wounded, 


302  Recollections  of  Pioneer  and  Army  Life. 

under  an  escort  with  wagon -train,  which  is  to  return  with 
rations. 

5th.  Rode  into  country  with  Hartley  and  "C"  boys  on 
mules — kill  blood-hound- — talk  with  Negro,  who  shows  us  the 
hiding-place  of  his  master.  Find  the  old  gentleman  with  his 
Negroes,  mules,  horses  and  wagon  on  a  little  island  in  the 
center  of  a  large  swamp.  Brought  away  the  animals  and 
turned  them  over  to  the  quartermaster.  Coming  out  of  swamp 
on  our  return,  came  upon  two  other  citizens  secreted  with 
horses — men  were  old  and  infirm — so  were  the  animals — let 
them  go.  Met  Lieut.  Kennedy  and  Capt.  Race  and  their 
"Bummers,"  also  Lieut.  Woodard — returned  to  camp  with 
them. 

6th.  Broke  camp  at  8  A.  M.  and  marched  to  Little  Salka- 
hatchie — eight  miles — arrived  at  n  A.  M.  Went  into  camp 
here  thus  early,  as  it  was  impossible  to  proceed  till  the  swamp 
and  river  were  bridged  and  corduroyed.  Heavy  rain. 

7th.  Received  marching  orders  for  8  A.  M. — delayed  till 
12  M.  Swamps  innumerable — took  command  of  "G"  to-day. 
Reached  camp  after  night.  Gen.  Mower  listening  to  piano 
music  evoked  by  young  lady;  the  boys  meantime  pulling  the 
blinds  off  the  windows  of  the  residence  for  fire-wood! 

The  commander  of  "G"  being  wounded  and  sent  to  the 
rear,  I  was  assigned  to  the  command  of  the  company  and 
remained  in  charge  of  it  till  we  reached  Raleigh,  N.  C. 

8th.  Broke  camp  at  7 — one  mile — past  a  saw-mill  and 
over  a  swamp  brought  up  to  Midway  Station  on  the  Sav.  and 
C.  R.  R.  Gen.  Howard's  headquarters  here — stacked  arms 
along  track  and  tore  it  up  and  destroyed  it  effectually.  Talk 
with  Negro  refugees — they  come  from  beyond  the  Edisto, 
whither  we  go.  The  Jennings.  Go  into  camp — dinner — throw 
up  breast-works — learn  that  the  rebel  force  is  not  far  distant. 
Ride  out  with  Lieut.  Woodard  to  the  plantations  of  Sims  and 
Jamison.  Get  a  few  books  and  papers  and  return — high 
wind — cold . 


Recollections  of  Pioneer  and  Army  Life.  303 

[The  Jamison  plantation  referred  to  belonged  to  David 
Jamison,  the  president  of  the  convention  which  voted  the 
State  of  South  Carolina  out  of  the  Union — so  far  as  a  vote 
could  do  that.  The  premises  were  a  wreck  when  I  reached 
the  spot.  There  was  at  least  a  ton  of  books  and  private 
papers  in  a  small  out-office  still  remaining;  among  them  I 
found  the  secret  cypher  used  by  Jamison  when  chairman  of 
that  convention  to  communicate  with  the  conspirators  who 
remained  in  Washington.  I  lost  this  and  other  papers,  in 
cluding  my  commission,  by  accidental  fire.] 

9th.  Broke  camp  at  8 — rapid  marching — pass  burning 
plantation  buildings — cannonading  ahead — cloudy  and  cold — 
halt — load — move  on — go  into  line  of  battle  at  the  double- 
quick — rebel  batteries  open  on  us — reach  a  position  in  an  open 
field,  in  a  depression.  Our  battery  takes  position  and  opens — 
rebels  reply — first  rebel  shot  takes  the  leg  off  a  batteryman 
and  kills  one  of  the  32d  Wis.  While  we  eat  dinner,  a  soldier 
with  a  "diamond"  shovel  scoops  out  a  shallow  grave  and 
lowers  his  dead  comrade  into  it.  Presently  a  piece  of  shell 
strikes  the  grave-digger,  who  had  his  back  turned  to  the  rebel 
battery,  on  the  knapsack,  throwing  him  upon  his  face,  doing 
him  no  injury  whatever.  An  orderly  wounded. 

After  much  labor,  succeeded  in  eluding  the  enemy — drew 
his  attention  to  the  left  of  our  position  and  laid  a  pontoon- 
bridge  a  little  to  our  right,  almost  on  the  rebel  front  (effected 
this  at  dusk) — crossed  immediately — strict  orders  not  to  con 
verse  above  a  whisper  and  to  move  with  great  caution  across 
the  bridge,  making  no  noise — 32d  and  loth  ahead — off  the 
bridge  into  the  mud  and  water  and  dense  woods.  Not  fifty 
yards  distant  reb  pickets  discover  us  and  fire  into  our  flank, 
wounding  John  Nelson  of  "E"  in  the  cheek.  "A"  and  "H" 
deployed  on  our  left  flank.  Firing  ceased — conclude  they  are 
gone — move  ahead — cautiously — swamp  getting  deeper  every 
step — delays — bitter  cold — feet  and  limbs  aching — men  shiver; 
teeth  chatter  so  they  can  not  talk — delay — Gen.  Mower — his 
impatience — advance — water  knee-deep — water  thigh-deep — 


304 


Recollections  of  Pioneer  and  Army  Life. 


Heavens,  how  cold !  Water  waist-deep — some  short  fellows 
nearly  go  under!  Ugh!  Ugh!  Some  crawl  up  and  perch  on 
the  cypress-knees  shaking  with  the  cold — foolish  fellows!  why 
don't  they  go  ahead?  Plunge  on,  leading  "G" — hard-tack 
from  the  haversacks  of  those  who  preceded  us  floating  on  the 
turbid  water.  It  is  now  near  midnight — plunge  ahead — gain 
dry  land — cross  a  fence  into  a  field — form  line  of  skirmishers 
and  also  a  line  of  battle  in  rear  with  as  many  as  have  now 
got  through.  Hear  the  voices  of  the  enemy  not  far  distant! 
Gave  them  a  volley — they  get  out  of  that,  leaving  a  mortally 
wounded  major  behind  and  some  other  prisoners.  Lines  of 

battle  now  complete — we 
see  the  enemy's  fires  just 
across  the  field — our  lines 
advance — see  rebel  troops 
passing  through  the  red 
glare  of  their  camp-  fires 
on  a  rapid  retreat — a  few 
scattering  shots  pass  over 
our  heads — we  advance — 
double-quick,  with  cheers 
— enemy  does  not  stay  to 
receive  us — r  each  iheir 
camp  — stack  arms — throw 
out  pickets — gather  in 
groups  around  the  rebel 
MIDNIGHT  CROSSING  OF  THE  EDISTO.  camp-fires  and  cough  and 
shake  with  cold  in  our  wet  clothes.  We  have  crossed  the  Ed- 
isto !  We  are  without  blankets,  hungry  and  cold — it  is  now  one 
o'clock  in  the  morning.  Bring  the  dying  rebel  major  to  one  of 
the  fires,  the  other  prisoners  also.  Gen.  Mower  congratulates  us 
— Lieut.  Van  Tuyl  goes  back  over  river  to  order  pack-mule 
up  with  blankets — morning  hastens — I  despair  of  sleep  to 
night  and  lie  down  on  pile  of  rails— slept  none — am  but  an 
indifferent  sleeper — "  Lew"  returned  at  3  o'clock  A.  M.  with  the 
blankets — he  went  to  sleep  instantly — not  so  I. 


Recollections  of  Pioneer  and  Army  Life.  305 

loth.  Clear — beautiful  day.  Troops  remain  in  camp — 
our  regiment  ordered  out  with  train  for  forage.  Reported  to 
Gen.  Mower — moved  up  lane — halt — stack  arms — continuous 
stream  of  foragers  passing  into  camp,  loaded  with  meat  and 
meal,  flour — everything!  Some  with  buggies,  others  with  car 
nages;  army  wagons  loaded  and  pack-mules.  Return  to  camp. 
3d  Division  passes  to  front — soldier  marched  through  all  the 
camp  under  guard  with  "Skulker"  written  in  large  characters 
on  a  board  which  was  strapped  upon  his  back.  Lieut.  Ken 
nedy  and  I  ride  into  the  country  this  P.  M.  Jennings'  resi 
dence — its  plight — the  family  in  the  kitchen — library — "Cot 
ton  is  King."  Visit  churches — Jennings  and  his  boats— his 
safe.  Don't  infer  that  we  cracked  this  man's  safe.  I  can 
only  speak  for  myself.  I  came  out  of  the  South  dead-broke! 

iith.  Clear  and  warm.  Broke  camp  at  12  M.  Received 
mail  on  the  Orangeburg  road  to-day — country  rolling — planta 
tions  large — red  clay  soil,  highly  cultivated.  Got  into  camp 
after  night — made  seventeen  miles.  Heavy  firing  ahead — i5th 
A.  C.  Reading  "Life  of  John  C.  Calhoun." 

1 2th.  High  wind — cannonading  through  the  night.  Rebs 
said  to  be  in  force  on  the  river — North  Edisto,  which  is  close 
by.  Look  for  a  fight.  Remained  in  camp  till  12  M.  Our 
batteries  meanwhile  shell  rebel  works.  Left  camp  at  noon  on 
a  moment's  notice — heavy  marching  order  —  moved  down 
towards  our  battery  and  turned  to  right  parallel  to  river, 
debouched  upon  an  open  field,  where  we  found  our  artillery 
massed — also  ammunition  train  and  ambulance  —  ominous 
enough ! 

Warm,  sunny  day — stack  arms — suspense — presently  from 
the  woods  in  front  of  us  emerge  two  officers  with  orderlies. 
They  ride  rapidly  across  the  field  and  report  to  some  one  far 
to  our  left  and  disappear  'round  our  left  flank  in  the  woods — 
suddenly  Gen.  Howard  and  staff  appear  and  ride  off  toward 
the  position  of  our  batteries — they  speak  as  they  pass  the 
left  of  our  line — notice  slight  agitation  among  the  men — news 
of  some  kind — in  a  minute  or  two  word  comes  that  Gen.  Blair 
is  in  Orangeburg!  The  town  is  ours!  Cheers!  A  pause — 


306 


Recollections  of  Pioneer  and  Army  Life. 


Gen.  Sherman  and  staff  appear  and  ride  toward  us — the  old 
hero  is  looking  splendid — we  cheer — he  salutes — cheers  re 
doubled — he  rides  away  in  the  wake  of  Howard,  towards 
Orangeburg.  Gen.  Mower  passes  down  the  line — boys  shout 
the  watchword  of  the  campaign:  "Cartridge-boxes  'round  the 
neck!  Hea-ve-o-heave!"  The  first  referring  to  the  swamps  and 
rivers  which  we  wade;  the  last  to  tearing  up  railroad  track. 
Gen.  Mower  the  boys  call  "Swamp  Lizard."  We  take  arms 
and  follow  our  leaders— halt  near  the  causeway  which  leads 
to  bridge  across  river,  then  push  on  over  into  the  city— notice 
a  few  dead  rebs  by  the  wayside.  Reb  works — city — buildings 
on  fire — citizens  (men.  women  and  children)  in  the  yards  with 
all  their  household  stuff  packed  up  awaiting  to  see  their  houses 
consumed — perhaps  themselves!  Fools!  Court-house — flag — 
Negro  pen — jail — fine  residences— Gen.  Sherman  on  the  side 
walk — prisoners — tearing  up  railroad.  Orphan  Asylum — gray 
suits  and  white  aprons — little  girls  and  boys  seem  quite  happy — 
they  bring  water  to  us — the  town  was  fired  by  a  Jew  merchant 
of  the  place — whiskey  burning. 

SCENE:  Old  rich  fel 
low  standing  in  his  portico. 
Regiment  passing.  Sol 
dier:  "How  do  you  like 
the  looks  of  the  Star- 
Spangled  Banner?"  Citi 
zen  :  "  I  've  seen  it  before." 
Soldier:  "You  are  liable 
to  see  it  again." 

Noticed  the  residence 
of  Lawrence  M.  Keitt. 

1 3th.  Marched  four 
miles  up  railroad  and  tore 
up  the  track — "G"  "oper 
ated"  at  Jamison's  Station 

ALECK  AND  BILLY.  — took   UP    sixty- six    rails 

to-day—left  track   for  camp   at   5    P.    M.— passed    through 
fine  country — came  into  the  old  Charleston  stage  road — beau- 


Recollections  of  Pioneer  and  Army  Life.  307 

tiful  plantations — reached  camp  soon  after  night— difficulty 
finding  the  cook's  "shebang" — dear  old  "Aleck,"  of  Alabama, 
and  "Billy,"  the  mule,  comprised  the  commissary  outfit  of  the 
officers'  mess.  "Aleck"  was  a  plantation  slave,  and  came  with 
us  from  Tuscumbia  in  1 862 ;  an  honest  colored  boy  as  ever 
lived.  I  never  could  tell  why,  but  "Aleck"  always  showed  a 
peculiar  affection  for  me,  nor  do  I  know  how  or  where  we  finally 
lost  him.  After  the  grand  review  at  Washington,  when  the 
army  boarded  trains  on  the  Baltimore  &  Ohio  for  Louisville, 
the  little  fat  mule  "Billy,"  that  so  faithfully  carried  over  hun 
dreds  of  miles  the  greasy  old  gunny-bag  paniers  which  con 
tained  our  boiled  sweet  potatoes  and  pig  meat,  would  have  to 
be  left  behind;  but  certainly  "Aleck"  came  West  with  us.  I 
would  give  dollars  now  (1911)  to  possess  a  kodak  picture  of  our 
faithful  cook,  the  pack-animal,  and  the  grub-stake  of  the 
Carolinas. 

1 4th.  Advance  division  to-day — cloudy  and  cold — fine 
country  and  well  improved — wide  stage  road — golden  grass  and 
hills  covered  with  evergreens — strike  hills  and  streams  seven 
miles  out — buildings  burning — smoke  of  i5th  A.  C. — mill  burn 
ing — halt — tar-pits — turpentine  camp — reach  high  grounds  be 
yond  and  go  into  camp — dinner — "Aleck"  and  "Billy"  bring 
in  wagon-load  of  grub — rain — hear  that  our  hard-tack  is  giving 
out — great  quantities  of  forage  coming  in.  We  can  trace  the 
route  of  the  corps  on  the  horizon  by  the  trail  of  black  smoke 
from  the  burning  tar,  rosin,  and  turpentine  works. 

1 5th.  Broke  camp  at  10  A.  M. — frequent  halts — noticed 
road  in  which  I5th  A.  C.  moved  in  ahead  of  us — the  corps  of  the 
grand  army  are  converging  to  strike  Columbia — our  foragers 
saw  men  of  2oth  and  1 4th  A.  C.s  to-day — heard  cannonading — 
distant — Beauregard,  Taylor,  and  Hardee  said  to  be  in  Co 
lumbia.  Weather  clears— carriages  with  sick — got  into  camp 
late  at  night — starlight — i5th  A.  C.  had  heavy  skirmishing — 
ii  P.  M.,  cannonading — whistle  of  steam  engine  in  Columbia. 
Reading  "Gulliver's  Travels." 

i6th.  Cannonading  — -  we  shift  to  left  —  swamps  —  strike 
sandy  country — sky  clears — sunny  and  warm — rapid  marching 


308  Recollections  of  Pioneer  and  Army  Life. 

— -hot — halt — get  in  shade  of  small  bush — view  of  Columbia; 
splendid;  situated  on  very  high  ground,  just  below  the  conflu 
ence  of  the  Saluda  and  Broad  rivers — Capitol  buildings,  old 
and  new — flags — deserted  streets — small  groups  of  rebels  riding 
in  full  view;  darting  in  and  out,  to  and  fro,  carrying  the  torch — 
cotton  burning  in  the  streets — the  ground  on  which  our  corps 
is  massed  also  very  high  and  in  full  view  from  the  city — our 
entire  army,  with  its  war-stained  banners — artillery — ambu 
lances — ordnance  and  supply-trains  stand  in  full  view  before 
the  doomed  Capitol.  Report  that  the  enemy  has  evacuated,  leav 
ing  only  a  detachment  of  cavalry  as  a  party  of  observation.  Our 
batteries  throw  shell  across  the  river  at  the  rebel  cavalry  in  the 
streets — foragers  coming  in  with  large  quantities  of  meal,  meat, 
flour,  and  tobacco — we  are  halted  alongside  an  old  prison  camp, 
where  the  officers  of  our  army  were  only  recently  starved;  a 
miserable,  filthy  place — old  garments,  patched,  lying  around — 
the  breeches!  the  graves!  the  hovels — bits  of  old  letters — 
pieces  of  old  briar-root,  of  which  the  prisoners  made  pipes. 
Strong  breeze  blowing  in  towards  the  city  — r  bands  playing 
"Yankee  Doodle."  Gen.  Sherman  passes — dense  smoke  en 
shrouds  the  city — lay  pontoons  across  Saluda — cheers — heavy 
skirmishing  —  enemy  driven  off  —  rebel  train  moving  north  — 
anxiety  about  Woodard  and  his  "Bummers";  recruiting  offi 
cer  and  his  Negroes  charge  them ;  flight — fun — cheers.  Finish 
"Davy  Crockett."  Picked  up  the  "base"  of  pants  worn  by  a 
Union  officer  in  this  prison;  he  had  repaired  the  foundation  of 
his  trousers  with  the  half  of  his  vest  intact,  sewed  on  the  best 
he  could. 

iyth.  Cannon-shots  9.30  A.  M. — three  companies  4th  Di 
vision  cross  river  in  boats  in  advance  of  those  who  are  crossing 
on  the  pontoons — new  Capitol  building,  meant  for  a  capitol  for 
the  Southern  Confederacy — churches — broke  camp  at  10  and 
crossed  Saluda — factory  on  our  left — camp  on  peninsula — high 
wind — tall  grass  on  fire — talk  about  wind  in  Illinois!  South 
Carolina's  can  equal  the  gales  of  any  land  or  sea;  blew  coffee 
from  my  lips  when  I  attempted  to  drink  it.  Broke  camp  in  the 
evening  and  crossed,  slowly,  Broad  River — passed  up  through 


Recollections  of  Pioneer  and  Army  Life.  309 

the  city  and  out  on  the  Winsboro  road  and  camped — beautiful 
plantation — wine  in  cellar — night — city  on  fire — visit  the  con 
flagration  with  Lieut.  L.  Van  Tuyl — asylum;  talk  with  officers 
of  this  institution — fire  spreading  in  every  direction — women 
and  children  in  consternation.  House— young  lady  and  two 
gentlemen — guard- — old  doctor  from  Vermont;  he  teaches 
school — feeds  soldiers — lady  asks  advice ;  give  it.  People,  black 
and  white,  going  in  crowds  up  the  streets,  carrying  children  and 
their  effects — old  gentleman  and  three  daughters;  their  friends 
over  the  way;  home  in  flames — exlamations  of  pity — Catholic 
priest;  his  school  for  boys — old  man  will  be  saved  in  spite  of 
himself;  we  insist  that  his  dwelling  is  safe,  and  suggest  that  he 
put  a  black  boy  on  his  roof  to  put  out  sparks;  he  is  indifferent 
and  reckless;  the  elder  daughter,  turning  to  her  sisters  with  a 
wan  face  and  a  wagging  hand,  almost  ludicrous:  " The  pee-an- 
nah!  the  pee-an-nah!" — leave  them.  Jewish  lady  and  eight 
children  accost  us;  give  her  the  best  advice  in  our  power — Gen. 
Giles  A.  Smith,  mounted,  lifts  his  flask  and  drinks  damnation 
to  the  Confederacy — Irish  people;  our  Irish  soldiers  assisting  to 
save  their  property — Negroes  begging — soldiers  with  cigars  in 
sack — elderly  lady  calls  from  porch,  asks  us  for  help;  observing 
that  she  is  unduly  frightened,  her  house  being  in  no  danger,  my 
companion  tells  her  that  "  Providence  will  do  more  for  you  than 
we  can;  fire  can't  reach  you."  Cotton  piled  in  the  streets  burn 
ing.  Meet  captain  i5th  A.  C.  wringing  wet,  having  assisted  to 
put  out  fire  in  the  neighborhood — fire  in  this  quarter  of  the  city 
raging  with  terrible  fury  over  and  through  the  solid  blocks  of 
buildings — families  fleeing  for  safety  down  the  streets — •  main 
street  crammed  with  a  surging  mass  of  humanity — soldiers  and 
citizens — sidewalks  heaped  with  plunder — soldier  with  gorgeous 
silver  platter  of  immense  size — books — carriages  and  horses — 
officer  and  guard;  officer  drunk;  tells  us  of  his  sergeant's  "good 
thing";  shows  a  sample  of  the  "good  thing" — ladies  looking 
after  trunks — family  pass  carrying  poodle  dog  and  leading 
a  hound — cross  street- — accost  old  Negro,  "What  do  you  think 
of  the  night,  sir?"  "Wall,  I  tell  you  what  I  dinks,  I  dinks  de 
Day  ob  Jubilee  for  me  hab  come."  Old  priest  and  "sister"  on 


310  Recollections  of  Pioneer  and  Army  Life. 

sidewalk  with  their  plunder,  ready  for  flight,  ask  if  the  flames 
have  crossed  the  main  street.  Press  on— pick  up  case  of  sur 
geon's  instruments — look  into  residence;  a  lady  in  full  dress 
seated  on  the  stairway,  her  trunks  around  her,  and  a  guard 
stretched  full  length  upon  the  floor  fast  asleep.  Revisit  old  man 
and  three  daughters;  old  gentleman  tells  us  of  mob  of  black 
legs  and  Wheeler's  men,  who  remained  behind  the  rebel  army 
to  sack  the  city  before  the  entrance  of  our  army;  one  of  the 
mob  drew  a  revolver  on  Gen.  Wade  Hampton,  who  returned  to 
dispel  the  rabble;  old  gentleman  told  us  that  he  would  rather 
lose  all  he  had  than  have  his  daughters  misused ;  to  our  knowl 
edge,  no  insult  had  been  offered  them;  during  our  absence  they 
had  a  very  large  trunk  stolen,  which  they  had  placed  on  the 
sidewalk;  leave  them.  Stop  again  at  the  Vermont  doctor's; 
found  him  in  the  midst  of  his  household  stuff  on  the  sidewalk  in 
front  of  his  residence,  greatly  flurried;  found  his  residence,  a 
large  fine  one,  on  fire;  went  up  stairs  to  the  flames  and  put  the 
fire  out.  Pass  on — fat  old  gentleman  and  family  sweating  under 
their  weary  load;  fat  man,  with  deep  anguish  in  his  voice, 
"Alas,  that  we  should  suffer  so  on  account  of  our  rulers!" 
Group  on  corner,  young  man  and  wife ;  home  burned ;  had  not 
where  to  lay  their  heads;  told  him  to  occupy  the  deserted  dwel 
ling  of  one  of  the  wealthy  traitors;  he  thought  none  of  these 
would  be  standing  by  daylight,  which  seemed  quite  probable. 
Met  a  soldier  with  a  small  white  pony  which  he  had  found  in  a 
cellar — Irish  lady  with  babe  blessing  Gen.  Sherman — one  fellow 
with  a  window  curtain  parading  the  streets  and  flouting  his 
strange  device  for  a  "  Bummer's"  banner. 

1 8th.  ist  Brigade  gone  to  tear  up  railroad,  also,  25th  and 
32d — our  regiment  remains  in  camp — Claiborne  White ;  his  new 
rebel  uniform  coat — 3d  and  4th  Divisions  tearing  up  railroad — 
move  out  six  miles  and  camp — cannonading  this  morning — un^ 
cut  sheets  of  rebel  "bluebacks"  picked  up. 

1 9th.  Broke  camp  at  7 — light  marching  order— i8th  Mo. 
and  one  company  of  gth  111.  Mounted  Infantry  with  us — pro 
ceeded  seven  miles  out  on  railroad  to  —  —  Station ;  here  over-1- 
took  rebel  rear  guard ;  came  near  having  an  ugly  fight  with 


Recollections  of  Pioneer  and  Army  Life.  311 

them;  they  open  on  us  with  a  battery;  we  deployed  under 
cover  of  the  deserted  rebel  huts  to  left  of  road  and  looked  upon 
the  enemy  deploy  his  skirmishers  and  prepare  to  receive  us. 
As  we  came  out  to  tear  up  track  and  not  to  fight,  and  as  we 
were  already  farther  advanced  than  necessary,  we  stationed  our 
pickets  and  withdrew  and  went  to  tearing  up  track.  At  this 
place  the  Confederate  authorities  were  erecting  a  stockade  for 
prisoners;  had  cut  the  trenches  and  framed  a  great  many  timbers 
for  this  purpose ;  we  burned  the  timbers.  On  returning  to  camp, 
learned  that  the  enemy's  cavalry  made  an  attempt  to  destroy 
our  supply-train. 

2oth.  Broke  camp  at  9 — moved  up  track  four  miles  be 
yond  where  we  were  yesterday  and  camp — portion  of  the  army 
tear  up  track — ten  miles  to-day.  Rumor  that  Charleston  is 
evacuated ;  contrabands  bring  in  this  word. 

2ist.  Our  regiment  in  advance  of  the  army — moved  slow 
ly  along  the  railroad,  tearing  it  up  as  we  went;  we  tear  up  the 
track,  pile  it  and  fire  it,  and  the  engineers  come  behind  and 
twist  the  rails — some  fiat  rail  on  this  road.  Some  of  our  escaped 
prisoners  came  to  us  to-day — immense  quantities  of  forage 
taken. 

2 2d .  Broke  camp  early  and  reached  Winsboro  about  noon 
• — handsome  village;  has  college — found  part  of  2oth  A.  C. 
here — railroad  destroyed — after  leaving  village,  took  road  to 
right — entered  a  very  rough  country — soil  intensely  red — sides 
of  hills  furrowed  by  deep  gullies — got  along  slowly.  Accumu 
lating  Negroes  fast;  poor  creatures  cling  to  us,  despite  the  bad 
treatment  they  often  receive  at  the  hands  of  the  soldiers;  their 
patience  is  invincible ;  I  often  pity  them ;  they  meet  with  insult 
and  abuse  at  every  turn;  the  vast  majority  of  our  men,  howev 
er,  respect  them.  Rear  guard  to-day. 

23d.  Broke  camp  at  8.  Marched  to  within  two  miles 
of  Wateree  River  and  stacked  arms  till  15th  A.  C.  crossed. 
Remained  here  three  hours — pulled  out  finally,  but  made  very 
slow  progress — reached  the  river  at  dusk  and  crossed  over  on 
a  poor  pontoon  bridge.  Boys  in  trouble  about  horses  and 
mules  which  were  ordered  to  be  turned  over  here — "Bummers" 


312  Recollections  of  Pioneer  and  Army  Life. 

anxious  about  their  riding  stock — extremely  so!  As  the  com 
panies  massed  on  opposite  bank,  they  pushed  forward  to  camp, 
distant  two  miles  —  rain  —  miry  —  hills — night — road  blocked 
with  wagons — pitchy  darkness  —  camp  —  got  into  line  and 
stacked  arms  in  a  confused  manner — rain — rain — late  supper — 
get  tent  up  and  fare  very  well.  Rumor  still  floating  about 
that  Charleston  is  evacuated. 

24th.  Broke  camp  at  6 — our  division  in  advance — rain 
ing — miry.  2oth  A.  C.  appears  off  our  left — halt  till  we  pass. 
Noon  halt — no  breakfast— hungry — rain  again  —  very  slow 
progress  this  p.  M.  Got  to  camp  at  twilight.  "G,"  "B"  and 
"K"  on  picket — posted  on  plantations.  Rain — i5th  A.  C. 
pickets — Negroe's  cabins. 

25th.  Raining — old  boats  burnt.  Took  up  picket-line  at 
7  and  joined  regiment.  Out  four  miles  came  to  sandy  soil — 
good  reads — country  poor;  swamps  and  thinly  inhabited. 
People  poor.  Secure  a  living  by  making  turpentine  and  rosin. 
Piney  woods  "chipped"  for  turpentine.  Made  twelve  miles. 
Passed  spot  where  one  of  "A's"  foragers  was  killed — rebel 
placard:  "Death  to  all  foragers."  Bellus,  Cowan  and  Purcell 
of  "E"  captured  and  taken  to  Andersonville  Prison.  They 
had  load  of  provisions  in  buggy — attempted  to  cut  loose  and 
run,  but  were  not  quick  enough!  My  boots  are  about  "gone 
up."  Rosin  pockets  in  trees  burning  last  night  as  we  came 
into  camp. 

26th.  Broke  camp  at  8  A.  M.  Crossed  Little  Lynche's 
Creek- — swampy  on  each  side  of  it — ammunition-train  had  to 
raise  boxes  to  keep  load  dry — swam  the  mules — Alex  and 
"Billy"  had  to  swim!  Good  roads  now — made  first  three 
miles  easily;  then  came  frequent  halts — finally  got  under  way 
and  moved  rapidly  along  till  reached  camp  before  dusk;  one 
mile  from  main  Lynche's  Creek.  Passed  two  houses  only  to 
day  and  they  were  of  the  meanest  sort.  Country  poor,  flat 
and  gravelly.  Tillson,  having  lost  Purcell,  details  Billy  Rob 
erts  for  brigade  forager.  Two  brigades  of  infantry  and  3,000 
rebel  cavalry  said  to  have  been  near  this  ground  at  9  A.  M. 
to-day — doubtful  as  to  the  numbers. 


Recollections  of  Pioneer  and  Army  Life.  313 

2yth.  Our  division  has  the  advance.  Broke  camp  at 
5:30.  Passed  4th  Division  in  camp.  Delay  at  creek — pass 
over — stream  full  to  overflowing;  farther  shore  low  and  cov 
ered  with  water — road  being  corduroyed  by  colored  pioneers — 
deep  water — horses  down — half-mile  to  dry  land — reach  it  and 
stack  arms.  Move  forward  one  hundred  yards  and  stack 
arms — go  with  Lieut,  Winsett  to  spring — troops  move  forward 
again  a  short  distance  and  camp  for  the  night.  Connecticut 
officers  with  us.  Learn  of  Kilpatrick's  disaster  with  Wade 
Hampton.  Orderly  this  P.  M.  captured  forty-three  mules,  four 
horses  and  large  number  of  Negroes.  1,500  "Bummers"  out 
to-day. 

28th.  See  little  of  the  enemy  since  leaving  Winsboro — 
ominous!  Broke  camp  at  7.  Our  division  in  advance;  our 
regiment  in  rear.  Made  fifteen  miles  to-day.  Rain — gained 
camp  at  3  p.  M.  On  direct  road  to  Cheraw.  Learned  after 
getting  settled  in  camp  that  gih  111.  were  in  tight  place;  went 
out  to  assist  them — no  forage  for  man  or  beast.  Drawing  ra 
tions  at  the  rate  of  five  crackers  for  four  days.  Men  hungry 
and  out  of  humor.  Rumor  that  communication  will  be  opened 
with  us  on  the  Great  Pedee.  Entrenched  after  night.  Presence 
of  the  enemy  restricts  foraging. 

March  ist.  Our  corps  remains  in  camp  to-day — under 
stand  we  are  further  advanced  than  the  other  A.  C.s.  Fin 
ished  Simm's  "History  of  South  Carolina";  on  "Life  of  Ma 
rion."  Rebs  on  our  front — their  picket-line  four  miles  distant. 
Taken  150  prisoners  since  yesterday.  Battery  man  of  our  di 
vision  came  in  to-day  who  has  long  been  a  prisoner  at  Flor 
ence — says  rebels,  on  evacuating  that  place,  left  large  number 
of  our  sick  behind  with  nurses,  to  be  picked  up  by  our  army; 
many  die  daily.  Marching  orders  for  daylight. 

ad.  "Bummers"  forming  at  headquarters.  Broke  camp 
at  6.  Moved  out  on  the  Cheraw  road — came  upon  the  enemy's 
outposts — drove  them  back  upon  their  rifle-pits  and  beyond, 
with  slight  loss.  Out  foraging  to-day — our  brigade  have  di 
vision  supply-train  with  us,  Gen.  Mower  and  one  section  artil- 


314  Recollections  of  Pioneer  and  Army  Life. 

lery.  Found  the  enemy  in  force — in  line  of  battle — too 
strong  for  our  small  force — returned  to  camp. 

Some  misgivings  about  our  situation  to-day.  It  is  said 
we  can  not  penetrate  farther  into  this  poor  country  without 
great  risk.  Enemy  is  concentrating  all  his  available  forces 
on  our  front  and  entrenching  to  dispute  further  progress.  We 
do  not  wish  to  fight  so  far  from  a  base,  lacking  facilities  for 
the  transportation  of  wounded.  I  think,  however,  that  "Un 
cle  Billy"  is  master  of  the  situation,  and  we  will  push  on, 
probably  to-morrow.  2oth  A.  C.  said  to  be  skirmishing  heav 
ily.  Camp  at  12  M.  Men  faring  poorly  for  rations — country 
a  pine  barren — no  subsistence — nothing  but  tar  and  turpentine. 
Many  men  barefoot — Chas.  N.  Cowan  captured  to-day. 

3d.  Marched  at  7 — moved  over  same  road  as  yesterday— 
did  not  find  the  enemy — pushed  on — struck  his  cavalry  vi- 
dettes — formed  line  of  battle — came  upon  fortifications — enemy 
fled  them  on  our  approach  and  attempted  to  burn  a  bridge 
behind  them  which  spanned  a  stream  running  parallel  with 
the  works — failed,  however — our  boys  rushed  upon  the  bridge, 
scattered  the  rosin  on  it  and  extinguished  the  flames — delayed 
us  but  a  few  minutes.  Our  artillery  reached  Cheraw  as  the 
rebs  were  leaving  it— throw  a  few  shell  after  them — our  skir 
mishers  charge  to  save  the  bridge  across  the  Pedee — too  late — 
covered  with  rosin  and  turpentine,  ignited  like  powder — the 
whole  structure  instantly  wrapped  in  flames.  Our  regiment 
sent  off  to  left  flank  of  town — put  out  "C"  as  pickets.  Col. 
McFarland's  residence.  Blair's  headquarters.  "Bummers" 
sack  the  town.  Join  brigade  south  of  town  and  camp — rebel 
hospital — cemetery — two  rebel  bodies  unburied — bury  them — 
supper — visit  town — river — reb  pickets — lieutenant  43d  Ohio, 
Lew  and  Hankey — chat  at  town  pump  by  moonlight. 

4th.  Re-inauguration  of  President  Lincoln  to-day.  Visit 
town  with  Lieuts.  Winsett  and  Hankey — depot  burned — ma 
chinery  moulds— bank-note  printing  materials — artillery  and 
small  arms — tools  of  every  description — cotton — locomotive. 
In  this  mass  of  captured  war  material  was  a  Blakely  gun, 


Recollections  of  Pioneer  and  Army  Life.  315 

"Presented  to  the  Sovereign  State  of  South  Carolina  by  One 
of  Her  Citizens  Residing  Abroad,  in  Commemoration  of  the 
soth  December,  1860." 

Laying  pontoons — ist  brigade  across  river — cemetery — 
many  Revolutionary  graves  here — mostly  British  officers. 

The  following  piece  of  Southern  buncombe  is  cut  on  the 
front  of  a  large  family  tomb  here : 

"My  name — my  country, — what  are  they  to  thee? 
What — whether  high  or  low  my  pedigree? 
Perhaps — I  far  surpassed  all  other  men. 
Perhaps — I  fell  below  them  all, — what  then? 
Suffice  it,  stranger,  that  thou  seest  a  tomb; 
Thou  knowest  its  use.     It  hides — no  matter  whom." 

Broke  camp  at  3  p.  M. — crossed  river — ist  Division  in  line 
of  battle — skirmishers  advance — firing — "G"  and  "B"  sent 
out  on  flank — to  knees  in  mire — cross  fields — gain  woods — 
drove  the  enemy  off  and  camp — night — enemy's  ammunition 
exploding  on  our  front — 3d  Brigade  moves  out  to  reconnoitre — 
return  to  camp— lose  my  haversack  containing  toilet  articles, 
the  equipment  of  many  weary  campaigns.  Cannonading  up 
the  river. 

5th.  Enemy  left  our  front — left  baggage  and  provisions 
behind,  on  the  ground  where  he  blew  up  his  ammunition. 
Beautiful  day — no  move— doze  and  read  the  poets.  Foragers 
coming  in  loaded  to  the  guards.  They  report  a  rebel  com 
missariat  six  miles  distant,  filled  with  pork  and  meal.  Num 
ber  of  barefoot  men  increasing  every  day. 

Our  rear  guard  still  in  Cheraw  destroying  the  spoils  taken 
there.  Charleston,  in  her  haste  and  doubt,  shipped  her  plun 
der  off  to  Cheraw,  where  Sherman  could  never  reach  it !  When 
at  last  they  found  it  lay  on  our  route,  it  was  too  late  to  get 
away  with  or  destroy  more  than  half  of  it.  They  did.  how 
ever,  burn  a  large  depot  building  containing  valuables  of 
every  description. 

Two  foragers  had  encounter  with  reb  to-day.  Killed  him; 
but  not  before  he  wounded  one  of  his  antagonists  and  broke 


316  Recollections  of  Pioneer  and  Army  Life. 

his  carbine  over  his  head.  "Bummers"  pillaged  a  rebel  store 
to-day — brought  in  rebel  uniforms  and  underwear. 

6th.  Broke  camp  at  8.  A  few  of  the  field-pieces  cap 
tured  at  Cheraw  along  with  us — the  cannon  not  on  trucks 
were  abandoned.  Reached  finely  cultivated  country  to-day — 
large  plantations— horses,  mules  and  forage  taken  in  great 
quantities.  Reached  Bennetsville  and  encamped.  Visit  town — 
Gen.  Blair's  headquarters— printing-office — prisoners — Charles 
ton  refugees — books — search  for  a  map  of  North  Carolina — 
Billy  Morgan  and  Alex,  our  colored  cook,  learning  to  read. 

7th.  Rear  guard  to-day.  Our  regiment  in  advance  of 
brigade.  Took  Fayetteville  road — passed  through  fine  coun 
try — guide-boards  many.  Procession  of  carriages  carrying  sick, 
lame  and  lazy.  Made  eight  miles  and  camped  at  3  p.  M.  at 
Beaver  Creek  church. 

Night — procession  of  refugee  slaves  coming  into  camp 
singing  with  splendid  effect  a  doggerel  after  this  manner  (tune 
of  "Dixie"): 

"  Way  down  South  in  de  land  of  gravel, 
Barefooted  Yankees  bound  to  travel. 
Look  away!     Look  away!     Look  away!" 

8th.  Eggs,  sweet  potatoes,  chicken  and  coffee  for  break 
fast!  Broke  camp  at  9:30 — make  half-mile  and  halt — rain 
pouring  down — slow  progress — frequent  halts — crossed  many 
swamps  and  streams — head-waters  of  Little  Pedee — country 
poor — farms  small — cabins  and  fields  of  stumps  and  stones. 
Negroes'  vehicles  taken  out  of  train  (lengthened  it  so  much) 
and  put  in  rear  of  corps.  Negro  procession  quite  an  army 
in  itself.  These  poor  creatures  are  sadly  mistreated  by  some 
of  the  soldiers;  they  are  uncomplaining,  however. 

No  enemy  last  two  days — crossed  State  line  into  North 
Carolina — roads  very  bad;  wagons  sink  to  their  axles — have 
to  corduroy  nearly  every  foot  of  the  way.  Regiments  and 
brigades — in  fact,  the  entire  army — take  a  rail  on  the  shoulder 
as  they  go  along,  depositing  where  needed.  Rumor  that  Rich- 


Recollections  of  Pioneer  and  Army  Life.  317 

mond  is  evacuated !  Heard  this  for  a  day  or  two.  Prognosti 
cations  on  this  event — rumors  of  Terry's  movements.  Learn 
that  our  gunboats  have  been  at  Fayetteville  looking  for  us. 
Got  into  camp  long  after  night — ordered  out  after  supper  to 
corduroy  road — train  can  not  get  through — anger  of  men — go 
— ordered  back — rain — Gen.  Howard's  orders  are  to  march 
till  10  o'clock.  What 's  up?  Lee?  Let  him  come!  We  can 
end  this  rebellion  on  this  ground  as  well  as  on  any  other. 

9th.  Roused  at  4  o'clock  with  orders  to  march  at  5. 
Warm — calm — birds  singing — come  into  finely  cultivated  coun 
try — plantations  large  —  dwellings  good  —  families  at  home. 
First  plantation:  old  gent,  wife,  children,  slaves.  Second 
plantation :  young  ladies  on  portico — Yankee  officer  strutting 
and  purring  and  stroking  his  moustache  before  them.  Third 
plantation :  two  ladies — guard — they  stand  in  the  porch  look 
ing  at  us  floundering  along,  knee-deep  in  mire  and  in  torrents 
of  rain.  We  glance  ruefully  out  of  the  shadow  of  our  lowering, 
drenched  hat-rims! 

3  P.  M.  Rain  lashes  our  faces — impossible  for  trains  to 
get  through  the  mire,  so  we  take  a  rail  each  and  corduroy 
every  inch  of  the  road.  Thunder  and  lightning — night  over 
takes  3d  Division  train  fast  in  mud — my  old,  worn-out  boots 
lame  me  terribly.  Attempt  to  camp  in  open  field — failed — 
filed  off  to  shelter  of  woods — pitchy  darkness — rain,  and  numb 
with  cold.  Foragers  stuck  three  miles  from  camp.  Hall — 
his  silverware.  Passed  Flora  College.  A  great  many  of  our 
men  lost  their  remnants  of  shoes  to-day.  • 

loth.  Broke  camp  at  6.  My  old  boots — my  old  socks! 
So  help  me  God,  if  I  had  old  Jeff  Davis  here,  I  'd  cram  them 
down  his  dirty  throat;  thought  I  'd  throw  them  away  this 
morning,  but  after  much  difficulty  got  them  on  my  feet  and 
staggered  along.  Hasty  breakfast  and  move  out— Negro  men, 
women  and  children.  We  are  rear  guard.  By  12  M.  got  half- 
mile  from  camp !  Swamps  without  number. 

i  p.  M.  Large  swamp — delay — moonlight — supper — cross 
over — Negro  woman's  child  drowned — horses  drowned — march 


3i 8  Recollections  of  Pioneer  and  Army  Life. 

rapidly — swamps  again — Presbyterian  church — go  into  house 
during  delay  and  give  an  old  reb  $25  (rebel  money)  for  pair  of 
shoes — good-bye,  old  boots!  Cross  over — it  is  now  two  o'clock 
in  the  morning  —  come  to  marshy  country  —  wagons  mire 
down — got  within  two  miles  of  camp  at  daylight.  Halt  for 
breakfast  and  feed  in  the  road — move  on  to  camp — get  in  at 
9  A.  M. — found  division  ready  to  move  out  for  the  ensuing 
march — stack  arms,  rest  a  few  minutes,  and  resume  the  new 
day's  march.  "Toil  on,  ye  ephemeral  train!" 

nth.  In  advance — rosin  burning — 3d  Division  camp  and 
general  headquarters — cross  Fish  Rod  Creek — pass  through 
Rock  Face  Village  and  across  river  of  same  name — factory  here 
burned;  operatives  idle — camp  within  three  miles  of  Fayette- 
ville,  our  cavalry  having  driven  the  enemy  away  from  the  town 
and  across  the  Neuse  River.  Night — just  got  asleep  when 
aroused  to  go  on  picket — took  company  and  posted  north  of 
camp. 

1 2th.  Brigade  moved  down  to  river;  put  down  pontoons 
and  crossed  over — seventy  men  and  eight  commissioned  officers 
of  24th  A.  C.  communicated  with  Gen.  Sherman  to-day — came 
up  Cape  Fear  River  on  tug  /.  McD.  Davidson,  from  Wilmington 
Communication  with  home  at  last.  Beautiful  breezy  day. 
Wrote  note  for  Plaindealer. 

Evening — ordered  to  take  in  pickets  and  join  regiment — 
Gen.  Mower  passes — distant -canonad ing — arrive  at  river — por 
tion  of  bridge  taken  up  to  allow  steamer  to  pass;  this  operation 
cut  my  company  in  two  whilst  crossing.  Rumor  that  we  will 
receive  ten  days'  rations  here  and  move  forward  on  Wednesday. 
i4th  A.  C.  troubles — lost  tents  and  baggage — Gen.  Morgan 
thinks  rebellion  "dwindled  down";  lost  all  his  tents  but  one, 
which  he  carries  on  a  pack-mule;  his  headquarters  in  fine  house 
in  town;  his  staff  inside,  himself  in  tent  outside;  small  wedge 
tent;  fire  in  front. 

Apropos  of  Gen.  James  D.  Morgan's  method  of  plain  living 
in  the  army,  the  following  slight  incidents  will  further  reveal 
his  character  and  standing  with  his  contemporaries: 


Recollections  of  Pioneer  and  Army  Life.  319 

In  the  evening,  at  the  close  of  the  fighting  before  Dalton 
(Rocky  Face),  Gen.  Morgan  ordered  Company  "H,"  Lieut. 
Woodard,  back  for  our  knapsacks.  The  company  passing 
Gen.  Palmer's  headquarters,  that  officer  hailed  the  lieutenant 
with,  "Where's  that  large  body  of  men  going?"  Woodard 
answered  according  to  Gen.  Morgan's  order.  Gen.  Palmer: 
"Oh!  All  right;  Gen.  Morgan  never  does  anything  but  what 
is  right." 

On  another  occasion,  in  the  field,  Gens.  Stanley,  Davis, 
Johnson,  and  Morgan  sat  mounted,  taking  a  social  glass  to 
gether.  Gen.  Stanley,  addressing  Gen.  Morgan,  offered  his  flask 
and  said:  "Will  you  drink,  general?"  Morgan:  "Thank 
you;  I  am  not  dry."  Stanley:  "General,  we  don't  drink  be 
cause  we  are  dry."  Morgan:  "I  never  drink  unless  I  am 
dry." 

Demolishing  arsenal  to-day — Gen.  Sherman  looking  on  and 
giving  the  proper  instructions — Wm.  Case — residence  near 
camp — pocketbook  buried  under  apple  tree— goods  buried — the 
hazel-tree  wand — horses  on  island — daughters  away — rebels 
under  guard — one  tricky  fellow  crossed  dead-line  and  is  mortally 
wounded. 

Sent  in  requisition  for  twenty  pounds  coffee  for  mess,  got 
five  pounds,  with  injunction  to  go  light  upon  it,  as  no  more 
could  be  had. 

i3th.  Bright,  sunny  day — music  across  waters  of  Cape 
Fear— Mr.  Case ;  stables  burning;  runs  out  to  save  buggy;  plug 
hat;  boys  shout  at  him;  they  run  his  buggy  back  into  the  fire. 
This  old  gentleman  (?)  had  made  himself  very  obnoxious  by 
telling  the  men  that  he  was  a  genuine  traitor,  and  looked  for 
the  speedy  overthrow  of  the  Union  armies. 

Broke  camp  at  7,  our  brigade  in  advance — pushed  out  three 
miles  and  went  into  permanent  camp  for  two  days — encount 
ered  rebels,  however,  and  did  not  gain  the  three  miles  without 
fighting  for  them — put  up  rail  barricade  and  pitched  tents, 
discharged  Hall  this  morning  and  took  John  Banfield  for  mess- 
forager — turkey  for  supper.  Clothing — "C"  and  "G"  estimate 


320  Recollections  of  Pioneer  and  Army  Life. 

called  for.  Order  received  from  Gen.  Howard  on  habit  of 
profane  swearing. 

1 4th.  With  Lieut.  Hankey,  visit  Fayetteville — difficulty 
in  getting  over  river — pontoon  bridges  crowded — town — navy 
officers — -troops  passing — bands  playing — citizens  out — Negro 
burial — return  to  camp — find  troops  going  into  new  camp — 
night — headquarters  off  "E"  and  "H"and  " C  "  in  corn-crib — 
Lieut.  Woodard  relieved  as  "Bummer." 

1 5th.  Moved  out  rapidly  in  direction  of  Clinton — no  ene 
my  till  we  reached  —  —  River;  here  had  severe  skirmish  with 
him;  punished  him  severely  and  drove  him  away,  but  not  with 
out  small  loss;  one  of  their  dead  and  two  wounded  fell  into  our 
hands — wide  and  deep  swamp  on  either  side  of  this  stream — 
rebels  attempted  to  burn  bridge;  failed;  we  were  across  about 
as  soon  as  they — torrents  of  rain  on  us  all  evening.  Nightfall — 
distant  cannonading — "Old  German  Louis"  frying  flap-jacks 
in  the  rain. 

1 6th.  Orders  to  move  at  10  - — delay  —  tents  down  and 
packed — stood  in  rain  all  day  waiting  to  move.  Evening — 
ordered  out  with  Company  "G"  foraging  with  brigade  teams — 
go  into  country  three. miles — night  overtakes  us — rain — bridge 
breaks  down — break  tongue  out  of  wagon — orders  received  to 
remain  on  road  where  troops  are  passing — bivouac — to  join 
regiment  in  morning. 

iyth.  Division  came  up  to  us  at  6  A.  M. — fell  into  our  place 
and  moved  with  column — came  into  good  country  and  then 
again  the  usual  number  of  swamps— got  along  slowly — lar<n 
mulberry  trees — left  Clinton  road  at  dusk. 

1 8th.  Left  camp  at  6— brigade  in  advance — sore  and  stiff 
this  morning — got  along  rapidly — corduroyed  considerable  road 
in  morning — towards  noon,  came  into  high  hilly  country — less 
pine,  more  oak — plantation  of  Cobb;  tomb  of  his  wife — camp 
at  dusk  at  Gison's  Church.  Tons  of  books  found  at  Cobb's 
Plantation. 

1 9th.  Broke  camp  at  9  A.  M. — our  regiment  rear  guard — 
A.  C.s  to  left — placed  trains  in  charge  of  one  division  and 


Recollections  of  Pioneer  and  Army  Life.  321 

pushed  forward  to  the  sound  of  battle — good  country — fine 
plantations — Union  family  at  roadside — boy  with  one  leg 
wounded  at  Fredericksburg — heavy  cannonading  to  left ;  contin 
ued  from  ii  A.  M.  till  night.  Reached  camp  unexpectedly  at  4 
P.  M. — just  across  wide  swamp  on  high,  steep  bank — foragers 
bringing  in  large  numbers  of  horses  and  mules — vehicles  of  every 
description  loaded  with  provisions — contradictory  reports  com 
ing  in  about  the  fighting  on  our  left — cannonading  through  the 
night — roused  at  12  midnight  with  orders  to  draw  one  day's 
rations  to  do  two  days  and  prepare  to  march  immediately.  The 
battle  of  Averyboro  fought  yesterday  by  the  i4th  A.  C.,  in 
which  Morgan's  division  particularly  distinguished  itself. 

2oth.  Broke  camp  at  2  A.  M.  Cannonading — distant — 
delay  at  swamp — push  rapidly  along  after  crossing  it — cannon 
ading — approach  it — 4th  Division  wagons  —  Gen.  Sherman's 
train — hot — fifteen  miles  made — push  on.  Trees  leaving  out 
—  fruit  trees  in  blossom.  Cannonading  dead  ahead  and  nearer. 
Hot,  hot.  Reach  I5th  A.  C.  and  go  into  line  of  battle — made 
twenty  one  miles  by  2  p.  M.  Enemy  entrenched  on  our  front. 
Night — withdraw  and  go  into  camp — moving-back  rebels  at 
tack  1 5th  A.  C. — repulsed.  This  is  Bentonville. 

2ist.  Picket-firing — best  rest  last  night  that  we  have  had 
in  ten  days— our  batteries  open — orders  received — division 
files  out — pass  Gen.  Blair's  head  quarters  and  Gen.  G.  A.  Smith's 
— pass  out  of  4th  Division  breastworks — going  to  extreme 
right  of  our  army — pickets — house — Qth  111.  Mounted  Infantry 
videttes — log  houses — low  land- — form  line  of  battle  in  a  heavily 
wooded  country  and  move  forward  instantly,  scarcely  giving 
time  to  form  the  line  and  to  allow  the  skirmishers  to  deploy. 
Nothing  joins  our  extreme  left — skirmishers  engaged — as  we 
advance  rebel  batteries  ohell  us — we  push  forward  rapidly  — 
strike  line  of  rebels  behind  log  breastworks;  on  to  them  so 
quick  we  captured  half  of  them,  the  rest  fled — at  this  point 
Lieut.  Hughes  of  "  I "  lost  one  of  his  men  on  the  skirmish-line. 
Following  up  the  retreating  rebel  line  through  heavy  woods, 
we  got  into  swamp — engaged  with  rebel  infantry  and  cavalry — 


322  Recollections  of  Pioneer  and  Army  Life. 

my  men  of  "G"  becoming  scattered  at  this  point,  firing  from 
behind  cover  of  the  trees;  some  of  them  missing  in  the  dense 
battle  smoke ;  and  feeling  the  necessity  of  having  them  well  in 
hand  for  emergency  orders,  I  stepped  out  into  a  small  open 
space  and  notified  all  within  hearing  that  if  they  intended  to 
remain  with  me  to  form  instantly  on  my  left ;  the  principal  men 
near  by,  including  the  sergeants,  formed  in  good  order — Gen. 
Mower,  Tillson,  Gillespie,  and  Race  at  hand — enemy  reported 
flanking  us — fix  bayonets — fall  back  to  better  ground — give 
them  musketry — Wyatt  mortally  wounded — number  of  others 
in  "G"  wounded  and  others  missing — rebels  reported  still 
forcing  our  left  flank — line  ordered  to  retire — fell  back  slowly 
and  in  good  order — did  not  hear  the  order  at  first— discovered 
the  line  retiring  and  fell  back  with  it — rebels  follow,  cheering — 
Corp.  John  Hungerford  killed — fell  back  to  first  line  of  rebel 
works  and  re-formed  our  line — awaited  the  enemy,  who  didn't 
come — regiment  lost  sixty  killed,  wounded,  and  missing — our 
skirmishers  got  into  Joe  Johnston's  headquarters  tents;  also 
reached  bridge  over  Mill  Creek  in  rear  of  town  of  Bentonville — 
had  our  movement  been  supported,  we  could  have  held  the 
bridge  and  destroyed  or  compelled  the  surrender  of  the  enemy's 
force.  Casualties  in  "E":  O.  P.  Craig,  killed;  Mar.  Furnald, 
John  Knutstrum,  wounded.  Moved  to  left  and  joined  right  of 
4th  Division — found  two  lines  of  battle — drew  cartridges  — 
move  again  to  left  and  rear — form  line — throw  up  works  and 
camp — artillery  in  position  on  our  left — houses  passed  this 
morning  used  as  hospitals — dead  buried. 

22d.  Enemy  gone — follow  him  into  Bentonville — halt — 
wounded  left  by  enemy  in  buildings — our  wounded  and  dead 
being  brought  in  from  the  scene  of  yesterday's  action — found 
young  Otho  P.  Craig  still  breathing;  lying  by  fire,  one  hand  in 
the  coals  badly  burned;  soon  died — isth  A.  C.  overtakes  rear 
guard  of  enemy;  engaged;  our  boys  drive  them  away — we  re 
turn  to  camp — our  wounded  doing  well — some  limbs  amputated 
— men  tied  up  before  25th  Ind.  headquarters  for  pillaging 
wounded  men's  knapsacks.  Sunset — go  on  picket — visit  field 


Recollections  of  Pioneer  and  Army  Life.  323 

hospital  in  search  of  some  of  our  missing;  found  none — the 
floors  of  farm-house  used  for  field  hospital  covered  with  our 
wounded;  I  stepped  cautiously  through  the  crowded,  silent, 
prostrate  men;  one,  as  I  approached,  a  fine-looking  young  man, 
sat  up  and  gazed  wistfully  far  away,  then  laid  down  and  died 
instantly.  Relieved  from  picket  at  6 — returned  to  camp  and 
marched  at  7 — struck  down  river  to  point  where  stacked  arms 
on  2oth  inst. ;  here  passed  Negro  troops,  loth  A.  C. ;  also  white 
troops  in  camp  of  same  corps  headquarters — zouave  guard; 
boys  groan  at  him;  for  two  miles  heard  regiments  as  they 
passed  that  guard  groaning  and  shouting  derisively ;  unreason 
ably  and  damnably  insulting — Gen.  Sherman's  circular  order 
congratulatory — pushed  on  down  river — pass  i5th  A.  C.  in 
camp — miserable  day;  wind  blowing  a  hurricane;  sand  flying 
in  clouds — sore,  stiff,  and  weary. 

24th.  Broke  camp  at  n  A.  M. — marched  to  river;  crossed 
at  Cox's  bridge  on  pontoons — rebel  earth-works — detached  and 
furloughed  men  come  out  from  Goldsboro  to  meet  us — great  re 
joicing — we  must  be  about  to  make  communication  with  the 
land  of  patriotism  and  bad  habits,  since  I  see  a  fellow  smoking 
a  cigar— reach  Goldsboro — Gen.  Sherman  and  group  of  other 
generals  review  us  as  we  pass  into  city — march  two  miles  be- 
beyond  town  and  camp — McLain  and  McMullen,  of  3oth  111., 
call  on  us — recruits,  lately  from  Henderson  County — this  is  the 
third  opportunity  furloughed  men  and  officers  have  had  to 
reach  us ;  but  McKinney  does  not  show  up. 

25th.  The  whistle  of  a  locomotive  from  Newbern  stirs 
our  hearts;  the  whole  army  cheers — sunny  morning  —  wagon- 
train  goes  to  Kingston  for  clothing  and  supplies — regiment  or 
dered  out  with  small  train  for  forage — "Sherman's  army  shall 
have  rest."  Learn  that  mail  is  at  division  headquarters  for  us; 
excitement  in  consequence.  Send  note  to  Plaindealer. 

26th.  Mess  held  caucus  this  morning  on  change  of  cooks; 
did  not  determine — regiment  busy  building  houses  and  policing 
— received  mail. 


324  Recollections  of  Pioneer  and  Army  Life. 

2yth.  Transcribing  orders  for  Lieut.  Winsett — issue  cloth 
ing — visit  town,  hospital,  college — soldiers  in  buggies — depot — 
Negroes — refugees — train — wounded — Gen.  H. — citizens — Col. 
Tillson  gone  home  on  furlough;  is  to  have  a  brevet  star;  for 
what  reason  is  what  we  are  all  guessing  at. 

28th.  Making  pay-rolls  for  "G" — got  furlough  for  Sergt. 
Harvey. 

2 Qth.  At  work  on  pay-rolls — muster  out  Rufus  Neal,  of 
"G" — on  Board  of  Survey  to-day — passed  upon  clothing  at 
brigade  headquarters.  Learn  that  Mac  Wood  is  colonel  of 
1 54th  111. ;  a  good  joke  on  Tillson  if  old  Mac  should  rank  equally 
with  him  at  the  close  of  the  service. 

3oth.  Make  out  list  of  articles  to  be  purchased  by  Maj. 
Race  at  Newburn — issuing  clothing — learn  that  Lieut.  Watson, 
of  i6th  111.,  is  in  College  Hospital,  Goldsboro — marching  orders 
for  5  to-morrow. 

3ist.  Broke  camp  at  5 — in  company  with  43d  Ohio  and 
twenty  wagons,  went  for  forage ;  orders  not  to  go  farther  than 
seven  miles;  found  nothing,  and  returned  to  camp. 

April  ist.  Inspection  at  n  A.  M — knapsacks  and  quarters 
searched  for  quilts,  clothing,  and  books,  picked  up  during  the 
campaign,  to  be  turned  over  to  hospitals;  only  one  article 
found  in  "G,"  piece  of  sheeting.  Officers  drunk — Hallaman,  of 
"I,'%  "wetting"  his  commission.  Receipted  to  Lieut.  Win- 
sett  for  McKinney's  receipt  for  package  of  money — $480, 
monument  fund — Winsett  does  not  wish  to  be  held  responsible. 

2d.  Maj.  Race  returned  from  Newbern — on  picket — re 
lieved  Lieuts.  Van  Tuyl  and  Woodard.  Very  quiet  along  the 
outposts.  We  have  lost  "Old  Joe";  he  goes  to  command 
20th  A.  C. 

3d.  In  obedience  to  orders,  took  formal  command  of  "G" 
and  became  accountable  for  its  ordnance,  commissary  and 
general  equipment — have  been  in  command  of  "G"  for  over 
two  months,  but  not  till  to-day  have  been  responsible  for  its 
quartermaster's  property.  "Uncle  Billy"  has  returned  fiom 


Recollections  of  Pioneer  and  Army  Life.  325 

his  visit  to  Gen..  Grant.  Campaign  will  open  soon — extra 
baggage  going  to  rear. 

4th.  Parade-ground  enlivened  by  skirmish  and  squad 
drills.  Busy  on  "G's"  papers.  Anxiety  and  sclicitude  in 
crease  as  we  approach  the  crisis  of  the  rebellion!  Bets  offered 
that  the  rebellion  will  go  down  in  from  three  to  five  months. 
Gen.  Sherman  says  this  army  will  be  mustered  out  in  five 
months. 

5th.  Called  on  Lieut.  Henry  Watson  at  College  Hospital 
— his  furlough — will  start  home  to-morrow — tremendous  cheer 
ing — "grapevine"  news  in  abundance. 

6th.  Drills — cheers  throughout  the  camp — shouts  of 
"Peace!  Peace!  Grant  has  taken  Richmond!  Thanks  to 
Almighty  God!"  Regiments  assembled;  dispatch  read  and 
shouted  to!  What  's  the  price  of  gold  in  New  York  this 
morning?  At  brigade  headquarters — "Major  Bob,"  the  ex 
pert  fife-player- — Dick  Van  Nostrand  says  he  's  getting  scared; 
the  war  will  soon  be  over,  and  he  '11  be  out  of  a  job ! 

yth.  Mocking-birds  along  little  stream  in  front  of  camp — 
days  and  nights  resound  with  cheers! 

8th.  Policing — no  drills — visit  Goldsboro  with  Lieut.  Van 
Tuyl,  Simpson,  Col.  G.,  Maj.  Race  and  Sergt.  Ritchey.  Called 
at  office  of  Capt.  Hall,  brigade  quartermaster — firing  salutes — 
rockets — cheers ! 

9th.  Men  buying  "Henry  rifles"  of  64th  111.  Doc  Craig 
reported  for  duty — Capt.  Shaw  on  leave  of  absence — cam 
paign  resumed  to-morrow — men  eager  to  be  off — inspection 
to-day — circular  from  Gen.  Grant:  "Let  us  finish  the  job  at 
once."  Marching  orders  for  8  A.  M. 

loth.  Cannonading  at  the  front — broke  camp  at  n — - 
passed  through  town  and  took  road  to  Raleigh — torrents  of 
rain— frequent  halts — made  ten  miles — got  into  camp  at  9 
p.  M.  Cup  of  tea  and  laid  down. 

nth.  Roused  at  4  with  marching  orders  for  5.  Moved 
back  on  road  three  miles  to  assist  trains — corduroyed  the  road 
and  returned  to  camp — found  troops  moving  out  for  the  day's 


326  Recollections  of  Pioneer  and  Army  Life. 

march — took  our  place  in  column— rail  barricades  numerous — 
used  by  rebel  cavalry — country  flat — swamps  numerous — slow 
progress — now  in  country  called  "Pine  Levels."  Made  eight 
miles — got  into  camp  at  sunset. 

1 2th.  Train  mired  down — this  moment  received  dispatch 
that  Lee  has  surrendered  to  Grant — tremendous  cheering — 
men's  guns  go  down  and  their  hats  go  up!  Army  wild  with 
joy.  Brigade  massed  and  dispatch  read.  Cheers  for  Grant, 
for  Sherman  and  for  3d  Brigade ! 

10  A.  M.  Cannonading  distant — slow  progress — long  and 
tedious  delays — no  bottom  to  these  roads — wagons  mire  to 
the  axle.  Went  into  camp  at  i  p.  M.  on  rising  ground.  Fin 
ished  "Life  of  Stonewall  Jackson." 

1 3th.  Two  days'  rations  issued.  Broke  camp  at  8  A.  M.— 
delay — Gen.  Sherman's  circular  read  on  Grant's  victories — 
cheers — hills  covered  with  living  green — orchards  in  bloom — 
in  camp  at  4  P.  M. — three  miles  to  Neuse  River. 

1 4th.  Broke  camp  at  8  —  marched  to  river  —  delay — 
cross  —  rebel  paroled  prisoners  —  beautiful  scenery  —  farms — 
growing  wheat — -rail  barricades — dead  horses — graves — first 
view  of  city  of  Raleigh — dome  of  Capitol  and  church  steeples 
to  our  right  over  tops  of  forest-crowned  hills — troops  encamped 
on  our  left — the  city-^-entrance — heavy  siege  guns  and  earth 
works — Fayetteville  Street — ladies — Capitol — bronze  statue  of 
Washington— camp  in  suburbs  west  of  city  on  Hillsboro  road. 

1 5th.  Formed  line  for  march — torrents  of  rain- — order 
to  march  countermanded — rumor  that  Johnston  has  surren 
dered — cheers,  cheers  and  cheers !  extravagant  demonstrations 
of  joy!  Visit  city — citizens  highly  elated  at  the  prospect  of 
speedy  peace.  Progress  and  Standard,  daily  papers,  are 
loyal — very  strongly  in  favor  of  the  old  Government.  Nego 
tiations  pending  between  Gens.  Sherman  and  Johnston. 

1 6th.  Policed  ground  and  arranged  regular  camp — at 
tended  service  at  Baptist  church — Sabbath-school — soldiers — 
sermon  very  good — prayed  for  peace.  Indeed  the  sound  of 


Recollections  of  Pioneer  and  Army  Life.  327 

Sabbath  bells  and  religious  ceremonies  came  gratefully  to  our 
long-estranged  senses. 

1 7th.  Inspection  at  i  p.  M.  Visit  city  with  Lieuts.  How 
ard,  Simpson  and  Capt.  McGrath.  Rode  out  to  the  Insane 
Asylum — on  leaving  camp  first  heard  of  the  assassination  of 
President  Lincoln — a  grape-shot  through  the  heart  would  not 
have  struck  me  more  dumb.  I  at  first  thought  it  a  ghastly 
joke— I  could  not  believe  the  report.  After  a  pleasant  ride 
through  the  city,  returned  to  camp  only  to  have  our  worst 
fears  confirmed.  The  President,  Secretary  Seward,  Fred.  Sew- 
ard  and  Maj.  Seward  were  assassinated — the  former  in  his 
private  box  at  Ford's  Theatre;  the  others  at  the  Secretary's 
home.  The  Sewards,  according  to  later  dispatch,  were  not 
killed.  Gen.  Howard's  circular  announcing  the  sad  event  re 
ceived  ;  profound  sorrow  fills  every  heart.  Wrathful  resolves 
and  vows  of  vengeance.  "The  South  has  lost  her  best  friend " 
is  the  opinion  of  all.  "Let  us  hoist  the  black  flag,"  say  the 
soldiers.  One  says,  "I  've  just  commenced  to  soldier." 

What  is  going  on  at  the  front  we  can  not  guess.  It  is 
said,  however,  that  Gen.  Sherman  will  succeed  in  obtaining 
the  surrender  of  Johnston. 

1 8th.  No  word  from  the  negotiations  pending  between 
Gens.  Sherman  and  Jackson. 

1 9th.  W.  H.  Davis  and  W.  H.  Roberts  mustered  out. 
Circular  from  Gen.  Sherman  received  at  brigade  headquarters 
announcing  that  satisfactory  terms  had  been  made  with  Johns 
ton  for  the  surrender  of  his  army — subject  to  the  approval  of 
the  President.  Armistice  of  five  days.  No  cheers  among  our 
troops  since  the  death  of  the  President. 

2oth.  Attend  review  of  loth  A.  C. — Gens.  Sherman,  Ames, 
Terry,  Schofield,  Slocum,  Cox,  Mower,  Paine,  Schurz  and  a 
host  of  other  stars,  known  and  unknown.  Negro  division — 
rumor  that  we  march  for  Washington  after  the  review. 

2ist.  23d  A.  C. — Gen.  Schofield  reviewed — not  present — 
said  to  have  been  splendid. 


328  Recollections  of  Pioneer  and  Army  Life. 

2  ad.  Attended  review  of  2oth  A.  C. — Gen.  Mower- — mag 
nificent  —  received  particulars  of  President's  death  in  New 
York  Herald.  Order  received  for  review  of  iyth  A.  C.  for 
24th  inst. 

23d.  Attended  service  at  Episcopal  church — Gens.  Sher 
man  and  Barry  present.  Minister  aged  and  prosy.  Prepar 
atory  review  by  Gen.  Force  at  2  P.  M.  Lieut.  Anderson  of 
"G"  reported  for  duty;  this  will  relieve  me,  for  which  I  am 
thankful.  Thank  God  for  the  freedom  which  awaits  us  all! 
Sent  a  communication  to  the  Daily  Pragress  relating  to  the 
assassination  of  President  Lincoln. 

24th.  Formed  line  for  review  at  8  A.  M.  After  some  de 
lay  marched  to  south  part  of  city,  stacked  arms  and  awaited 
orders.  Meantime,  Adjt.  Allen  reported  that  Lieut.-Gen.  Grant 
would  review  us — this  was  the  first  intimation  we  had  of  the 
presence  of  the  General-in-chief.  Enthusiasm  at  this  an 
nouncement — had  an  additional  incentive  (if  such  were  needed) 
to  acquit  ourselves  well. 

Passed  in  review — Gen.  Grant  looked  quite  natural.  Spec 
tators  and  generals  enthusiastic  over  our  appearance  and 
demeanor. 

p.  M.  Air  thick  with  rumors — sick  being  sent  to  hospi 
tals — trains  loading  with  supplies  and  ammunition — every  in 
dication  of  a  forward  movement — rumored  that  Gen.  Grant 
has  given  Johnston  till  8  A.  M.  to-morrow  to  accept  his  terms 
of  unconditional  surrender;  in  case  he  does  not,  we  move 
against  him. 

25th.  Broke  camp  at  8.  Moved  west  along  railroad  ten 
miles  and  went  into  regular  camp.  Communication  to  Prog 
ress  appeared  in  this  morning's  issue.  Relieved  of  "G"  by 
order — thanks ! 

26th.  Engine  and  coach  passed  west  to  Johnston  this 
morning,  carrying  Gens.  Grant,  Sherman,  Howard  and  Blair. 
Night — train  returned  from  front — communicates  with  the 
army — cheers — Gen.  Blair  announces  the  surrender  of  Johns 
ton  and  peace  in  consequence- — rockets  and  cheers!  Tillson 


Recollections  of  Pioneer  and  Army  Life.  329 

returned  with  a  brevet  star — he  ran  home  like  a  small  boy  to 
exploit  himself  over  a  brevet  star — what  had  he  done  to  win 
it?  He  is  a  long  way  behind  James  D.  Morgan,  whom  he 
despises. 

2yth.  Broke  camp  at  6  and  marched  back  to  Raleigh — 
occupied  old  camp — found  our  brush  shades  intact.  Worked 
on  "G's"  papers.  Night— visit  the  city— band  serenading  at 
Terry's  and  Slocum's  headquarters.  Rumor  that  we  will 
march  through  to  Washington. 

28th.  Work  on  papers — rumor  that  we  march  to  Wash 
ington;  thence  by  rail  to  Springfield,  111.,  to  be  mustered  out. 
We  go  via  Petersburg  and  Richmond.  Great  rejoicing  at 
this.  Orders  from  Gens.  Howard  and  Blair — circular  to  citi 
zens  from  Gen.  Howard — visit  city.  Interviewed  Mrs.  Stewart, 
a  lady  past  eighty  years  of  age,  living  in  the  city  and  ac 
quainted  with  Andrew  Johnson  in  his  earliest  years.  Mrs. 
Stewart  said:  "He  was  born  in  1808;  I  was  married  the 
yth  of  March  of  that  year;  he  was  born  on  the  nth  of  that 
month.  It  was  the  custom  to  have  a  ball  after  weddings  in 
those  days.  While  we  were  dancing  at  a  late  hour  I  heard 
Polly  had  a  boy.  I  went  up  into  her  room  in  my  wedding 
dress — the  room  was  a  comfortable  one,  and  reached  by  a 
flight  of  stairs  from  the  outside — I  went  up  and  named  him 
Andrew.  I  wanted  to  call  him  Andrew  McDonald;  but  his 
father  said,  'No,  only  call  him  Andrew — that  is  as  much  as 
I  can  remember.'  His  father  was  a  tall,  raw-boned  man; 
don't  think  he  had  twenty  pounds  of  flesh  on  him,  and  the 
heartiest  eater  I  ever  saw.  Andy's  parents  lived  with  my 
step-father;  his  father  drove  team  for  my  step-father,  and 
they  called  my  parents  'Old  Master  and  Missus.'  They  were 
poor,  but  honest.  I  have  seen  Andy's  grandfather,  who  was 
a  tailor." 

When  about  to  take  my  leave,  Mrs.  Stewart  said:  "Will 
you  see  the  President  soon?"  I  thought  I  would.  "Tell  him 
Mrs.  Stewart,  who  named  him,  is  still  living,  very  frail  and 


330  Recollections  of  Pioneer  and  Army  Life. 

poor-to-do;    tell  him  to  send  me  a  little  present,  a  little  sum 
of  money  or  something." 

I  met  other  persons  who  had  known  Andy  when  a  "poor 
tailor  in  Raleigh."  One  old  gentleman,  pointing  to  a  large 
oak  tree  about  fifty  yards  from  his  house,  said  that  under 
that  tree  once  stood  the  house  of  an  old  woman  which  Andy 
had  helped  to  stone,  and  in  consequence  had  to  leave  town. 

HOMEWARD  BOUND  VIA  RICHMOND  AND  WASHINGTON. 

29th.  Broke  camp  at  9.  Gen.  Howard's  circular  regu 
lating  the  march — great  pains  are  being  taken  to  prevent 
injury  of  property  or  mistreatment  of  citizens  along  the  route 
of  march.  Heavy  penalties  laid  down  against  straggling  or 
pillaging.  After  considerable  delay  on  the  route,  reached  the 
Neuse — crossed  and  went  into  camp — rain  pouring  on  us  as 
we  turned  in  at  8  p.  M.  Very  dark — wet — crawl  into  blankets. 

Heard  cannon  shots  at  Raleigh  all  day  at  intervals,  till 
sunset,  when  a  salute  of  thirty-six  guns  was  fired,  com 
memorating  the  reunion  of  States,  now  thirty-six  in  number. 
The  first  were  fired  in  memory  of  the  fallen  President. 

3Oth.  Drying  clothing  —  no  marching  Sundays  going 
home !  Boy  drowned  in  the  Neuse.  Took  piece  artillery  down 
and  fired  over  the  water — raised  body — bathed  to-day  with 
Lieut.  "Lew" — S.,  H.  and  Davy  Duston.  Henry  Allaman 
of  our  company  and  Wright  of  "H"  returned  from  Salisbury 
Prison  this  eve.  The  former  was  wounded  in  neck  and  cap 
tured  at  Bentonville;  the  other  was  taken  near  Raleigh.  The 
Confederates  said  to  these  boys  when  they  were  taken:  "Let 
us  have  your  knife  and  pocket-book."  Took  rings  off  their 
fingers;  sold  them  at  auction — one  went  at  $70  Confederate 
scrip.  Rebel  rank  and  file  in  Johnston's  army  lament  the  death 
of  Abraham  Lincoln.  Slow  to  believe  in  the  surrender  of  Lee ! 
Jeff  Davis  escapes — paid  their  soldiers  ten  months'  pay — 
$1.65  in  silver!  Strawberries  on  the  Neuse. 

Maj.  Race  gave  me  a  sketch  of  his  life — a  marked  success. 
Simpson  mustered  as  captain. 


Recollections  of  Pioneer  and  Army  Life.  331 

May  i st.  Broke  camp  at  7 — marched  rapidly — passed 
through  villages  of  Forestville  and  Wake  Forest — college — 
citizens — beautiful  country — groves — valleys — more  oak  and 
elm  and  less  pine — country  lads  and  lassies  congregated  at 
cross-roads  to  see  the  "Yankees"  pass.  Notice  many  officers 
and  men  of  Lee's  army  at  their  homes — Othello's  occupation 
gone !  Army  very  orderly — disturb  nothing  and  nobody.  This 
march  is  much  like  a  holiday  parade.  Passing  through  towns 
we  unfurl  "Old  Glory"  and  our  bands  play,  which  brings  all 
the  citizens  to  their  doors.  Made  seventeen  miles.  Going  to 
bathe,  came  upon  citizens  taking  articles  of  clothing,  etc., 
from  a  cave!  The  horrible  nightmare  of  Civil  War  no  longer 
disturbs  their  sleeping  and  waking  hours. 

2d.  Broke  camp  at  6 — marched  rapidly— citizens  out 
to  see  the  "Yankees"  homeward  bound.  Country  high  and 
sandy — crossed  Tar  River — made  twenty-two  miles. 

Boys  plagued  the  Negroes  greatly  along  the  route,  snap 
ping  gun -caps  at  them  and  making  them  take  off  their  hats 
and  shout  for  Sherman!  Negroes  were  not  displeased  at  this; 
but  the  guns  and  horse-play  scared  some  of  them,  and  the 
wenches  scampered  back  over  the  fields  to  their  homes! 

3d.  Marched  at  5.  Passed  Ridge  way  Junction — train  of 
cars  passed  us  here — Ridgeway  Station — Warrenton  Station — 
sick— got  into  an  ambulance  for  the  first  time  during  the  war! 
It  is  said  we  are  racing  with  i5th  A.  C.  for  the  first  crossing  of 
the  Roanoke.  It  is  considered  worth  an  effort  to  have  the 
advance  after  crossing  the  river — perhaps  so;  but  we  are 
flesh  and  blood,  and  the  sun  is  hot,  and,  besides,  there  is 
no  hurry.  Reached  within  three  miles  of  river — i5th  A.  C. 
ahead — went  into  camp  at  3  p.  M.  Made  eighteen  miles. 

Fine  plantations  along  to-day's  route;  any  number  of  Ne 
groes  and  any  amount  of  tobacco — seventy  boxes  of  the  latter 
found  in  one  place.  Boys  appropriate  it. 

4th.  1 5th  A.  C.  laying  pontoons;  progress  slowly  with 
this  work — Lieut.  Hankey — Company  "C"  sent  forward  to 
Petersburg  with  fifteen  wagons  for  rations — remained  in  camp 


332  Recollections  of  Pioneer  and  Army  Life. 

till  3  P.  M.,  when  moved  out  and  marched  down  to  within  half- 
mile  of  river — trains  sent  over  first — first  view  of  Roanoke — 
gleam  of  water  through  mass  of  dark-green  foliage — twilight — 
went  down  to  pontoon  bridge — corps  trains  massed  in  the 
valley. 

5th.  Broke  camp  and  marched  at  3  A.  M. — crossed  river 
and  marched  rapidly  towards  Petersburg  till  daylight,  when  we 
halted  for  breakfast — spring  shower;  cooled  the  air  and  laid  the 
dust,  making  the  march  delightful — we  are  now  in  "Ole  Vir- 
ginny";  took  first  drink  upon  her  sacred  soil  from  a  sulphur 
spring — beautiful  landscape — fine  plantations — tobacco  houses 
—  Lee's  soldiers  —  Meherrin  River  —  bridge  burned  —  Wilson 
— Sheridan — reached  creek;  bathed  face  and  feet — pushed  on 
to  Boydton  Plank  Road,  historical  ground,  and  camped  near 

— 's  store — some  claim  we  made  thirty  miles  to-day — men 
in  good  spirits— got  into  camp  at  4  p.  M. — citizens  clever — some 
Union  people — children  brought  us  the  cup  of  cold  water — the 
Logan  and  Blair  race  seems  at  its  crisis. 

6th.  Marched  at  5  —  Negroes  shouting  for  Sherman : 
"  'Rah  Sherman!" — men  suffering  from  exhaustion  and  sun 
stroke — made  twenty-five  miles — camped  on  north  bank  of 

—  Creek  on  farm  where  Gen.  Scott  is  said  to  have  been 
born,  half-mile  from  Dinwiddie  Court  House — Five  Forks  close 
at  hand,  off  our  left. 

yth.  Marched  at  5 — arrived  at  Petersburg  at  10  A.  M.  ; 
camped  two  miles  from  city  on  the  Appomattox — purchased 
supplies;  first  we  have  had  from  "God's  country"  for  some 
months — with  Lieut.  Lew  Van  Tuyl,  visit  city — ride  mules — 
citizens — effect  of  grape,  shell,  and  musketry  on  buildings — 
rebel  hospitals — officers  and  soldiers  in  gray,  less  an  arm  or  leg, 
resting  at  their  homes. 

For  four  years  the  approaches  to  the  city  and,  in  fact,  the 
region  round  about  has  been  tramped  by  the  contending  hosts 
till  the  face  of  Nature,  barring  the  forests,  is  as  bare  as  one's 
hand.  We  were  out  where  the  Petersburg  mine  was  exploded, 
and  I  studied  the  defensive  earthworks  with  interest,  for  thev 


Recollections  of  Pioneer  and  Army  Life.  333 

were  intricate,  elaborate,  and,  I  believe,  were  never  successfully 
stormed  at  any  point  for  a  time,  long  or  short.  They  were 
built  by  slave-labor,  and  they  certainly  furnish  evidence  that 
the  Southern  leaders  came  in  due  time  to  realize  the  size  of  the 
job  they  had  undertaken. 

8th.  Orders  to  march  at  8  A.  M. — left  camp  in  company 
with  Lieut.  Brugel  ("F")  and  visited  fortifications  east  and 
north  of  city — exploded  mine — Fort  Hell — Fort  Steadman  — 
cemetery — bones  of  the  dead — joined  the  column  at  the  Appo- 
mattox,  north  of  city,  going  out  on  Richmond  Turnpike — 
marched  to  — -  —  Creek  and  camped — bath — bad  conduct  of 
men  while  passing  through  city — bad  feeling  between  Eastern 
and  Western  armies;  discreditable  to  both;  a  spirit  indulged, 
however,  only  by  the  worst  in  each. 

9th.  "On  to  Richmond ! " — left  camp  at  8 — marched  rap 
idly  and  cheerfully  along  the  wide  turnpike — passed  through 
earthworks  enclosing  Richmond — evidences  of  battle — Drury's 
Bluff  and  Fort  Darling  off  our  right;  Drury's  Plantation  on  our 
left — beautiful  residence  and  groves — James  River  and  steam 
ers,  joyful  to  our  long-exiled  eyes — first  view  of  Richmond — 
camped  in  suburbs  of  city — i4th  and  2oth  A.  C.s  already  here — 
dinner — Gen.  Sherman  refuses  the  proffered  hospitality  of  Hal- 
leek;  bully  for  "Uncle  Billy!"  With  McGrath,  Lieut.  Van 
Tuyl,  and  Simpson,  visit  Manchester — factories — Scott's  Bridge 
— Castle  Thunder — Libby  Prison. 

loth.  With  Lieut.  Van  Tuyl,  Hankey,  and  Simpson,  visit 
Belle  Isle  —  graves  —  enclosures  —  low  ground  —  soup-house, 
bakery,  etc.  Along  the  ramparts  of  this  mournful  spot  Jeff 
Davis  and  his  Cabinet  were  wont  to  enjoy  an  outing  on  pleasant 
days  in  their  white  flannel  suits  and  gold-headed  canes,  looking 
down  on  the  starving  wretches  who,  by  the  fortunes  of  war,  had 
become  their  victims. 

i  ith.  With  Lieut.  Hankey,  visit  Richmond — Castle  Thun 
der — Libby/  Prison — Corcoran  Prison — Dallgren  Depot — Capi 
tol — marble  statue  of  Henry  Clay — Crawford's  bronze  eques 
trian  statue  of  Washington  and  the  Virginia  Compatriots — Gen. 


334  Recollections  of  Pioneer  and  Army  Life. 

Lee's  residence — burned  districts — left  wing  of  our  army  com 
menced  the  march  to  Alexandria — stood  on  west  side  of  Capitol 
Square  and  saw  the  head  of  column  pass  through  the  city — Gen. 
Sherman  and  staff  in  advance — cavalry — Gen.  Davis  and  i4th 
A.  C. — Gen.  Morgan,  brevet  major-general,  26.  Division;  no 
honors  to  Gen.  Halleck — 2oth  A.  C.  will  follow  the  i4th,  and 
to-morrow  the  right  wing  will  pass  through — our  A.  C.  in 
advance. 

1 2th.  Broke  camp  at  6 — left  the  column  while  it  was  pre 
paring  to  leave  camp  and  crossed  over  into  Richmond  with  3d 
Division,  which  had  the  advance,  as  I  wished  to  look  over  the 
city  again. 

St.  Paul's  Church,  where  Jeff  Davis  worshiped — his  resi 
dence — the  Patrick  Henry  Episcopal  church,  where  this  cele 
brated  man  made  his  great  speech  advocating  war  with  King 
George;  the  church  built  on  site  of  theatre  destroyed  by  fire, 
which  consumed  a  great  number  of  persons — the  Monument; 
inscriptions — Gen.  Washington's  headquarters,  fine  stone  build 
ing  on  Main  Street  between  Nineteenth  and  Twentieth;  used 
formerly  as  hotel. 

Joined  my  regiment  as  it  debouched  into  Main  Street — out 
of  the  city — Emmanuel  Church — Chickahominy  battle-ground 
off  our  right — cemetery — graves  of  soldiers — delays — very  slow 
progress — went  into  camp  early — troops  ahead  have  bad  roads, 
which  impedes  our  progress — supper — mess  talk  of  war  with 
France  in  Mexico;  we  are  not  averse  to  the  adventure. 

RICHMOND  TO  WASHINGTON. 

1 3th.  Broke  camp  at  6 — delays — crossed  Chickahominy 
early — marched  to  Hanover  Court  House  and  camped — pontoon 
bridge  being  laid  across  Pamunkey— Bethesda  Church ;  this  is 
the  church  back  upon  which  Sheridan  drove  Fitz-Hugh  Lee  in 
the  severest  cavalry  fight  of  the  war;  the  fight  commenced  at 
Hawe's  Shop — skeletons  of  horses  lying  over  the  ground. 

1 4th.  Crossed  Pamunkey;  small,  turbid  stream — delays 
in  getting  over — did  not  clear  the  bridge  much  before  noon — 


Recollections  of  Pioneer  and  Army  Life.  335 

after  crossing,  marched  rapidly;  made  fourteen  miles,  and 
camped  beyond  Chesterfield  Station  on  railroad  ->-  Concord 
Church — wedding — one  of  Lee's  soldiers. 

1 5th.  Broke  camp  at  4.  Our  division  in  advance  and 
our  regiment  in  advance  of  division.  Crossed  tributaries  of  Mat- 
tapony — made  twenty  miles  and  camped  across  Po  River,  with 
in  five  miles  of  Spottsylvania  Court  House.  Lee's  extreme 
right  rested  here— his  works — got  into  camp  at  2  P.  M.  Mounted 
and  rode  with  Capt.  McGrath  to  Spottsylvania  Court  House — 
rode  over  the  entire  field,  several  miles  in  length.  Scene  of 
Gen.  Hancock's  battles — Gen.  Grant's  headquarters — McAl- 
sop's  house — grave  of  Capt.  McGrath's  brother.  The  dead! 
Mr.  Sanford  at  Spott's  Tavern — grape  and  shell  against  his 
buildings.  This  battle-ground  still  bore  the  deep  scars  made 
by  the  artillery  and  trains  through  the  woods  along  improvised 
roads. 

1 6th.  Broke  camp  and  marched  at  4.  Reached  Fred- 
ericksburg  at  9  A.  M.  With  Maj.  Race  and  Maj.-Surg.  Ritchey, 
visited  battle-ground.  Howison's  Hill — Howison's  residence — 
Howison  himself — Gen.  Lee's  point  of  observation  Howison's 
Hill — his  position  worth  100,000  men  to  him.  Gen.  Burnside's 
point  of  observation  on  heights  opposite.  Marye's  Hill — 
Hamilton's  Crossing. 

The  stone  -wall;  cemetery  on  Marye's  Hill — buildings  dam 
aged  by  our  shell — marks  of  musketry  on  tombstones — plucked 
a  rose  here.  Trenches  filled  with  our  dead.  Ice-house  and 
fair  ground  and  their  gruesome  story. 

Visited  small  shaft  to  the  mother  of  Washington  on  Ken- 
more  estate — Col.  Lewis'  residence — Mrs.  Washington's  home 
where  she  died — her  character  as  portrayed  by  Mr.  Bayne. 
Washington's  father — his  grave — Westmoreland  County.  Rev 
olutionary  buildings.  Mr.  Bayne's  talk  of  the  battles — Fred- 
ericksburg  and  Chancellorsville — Lee  nothing  less  than  a  god ! 
Sedgewick's  retreat  across  Bank's  Ford — dead  floating  down 
river. 


336  Recollections  of  Pioneer  and  Army  Life. 

The  citizens — town  demolished — Orphan  Asylum.  Cap 
ture  of  Jeff  Davis  announced  by  Gen.  Sherman.  Maj.  Race 
speaks  in  just  terms  of  the  dishonesty  and  trickery  of  Tillson; 
and  so,  also,  did  Surg.  Ritchey.  Encamped  near  Potomac 
Creek — severe  march — weather  extremely  hot — overtook  col 
umn  three  miles  from  camp.  The  shaft  that  marks  the  grave 
of  Mary  Washington  is  chipped  and  marked  by  Vandals  and 
musketry. 

iyth.  God  speed  our  weary  feet  to  Alexandria!  My 
flesh  feels  like  it  had  been  beaten  with  a  maul.  The  dust  is 
thick  and  the  sun  hot — the  muscles  of  our  legs  hard  as  wood. 
Got  along  slowly — made  ten  miles  only — camped  in  pines. 
Some  deaths  to-day  from  overheat.  Did  not  get  the  nearest 
route  to  Alexandria  and  have  twenty  miles  extra  to  march — 
1 5th  A.  C.  is  on  direct  road. 

i8th.  Reached  Occoquan  River  early  this  p.  M.  Blue 
Ridge  Mountains  off  our  left  for  two  or  three  days — heavy  rain 
this  P.  M. — bath — camped  on  heights  north  of  river. 

1 9th.  Broke  camp  at  6  and  emerged  from  the  hills  upon 
Strawberry  Plains  at  2  P.  M. — country  level — beautiful  pas 
tures — camped  four  miles  from  Alexandria — mail. 

Learn  that  McKinney  is  in  Alexandria  and  will  join  us 
to-morrow!  Delighted  to  know  that  this  eminent  warrior, 
who  was  not  with  us  on  the  Hood  Chase,  nor  on  the  March  to 
the  Sea,  nor  in  the  Campaign  through  the  Carolinas,  will  taste 
camp  life  with  us  for  a  day  or  two  before  we  are  reviewed 
and  discharged. 

2oth.  Doubts  as  to  whether  all  the  veterans  will  be  mus 
tered  out.  Boys  will  be  sadly  disappointed  if  they  are  not 
at  home  on  the  4th  July  coming.  McKinney  returned  to 
regiment  after  an  absence  of  seven  months. 

2ist.  George  ("Dad")  Hand  reported  for  duty  to-day 
after  an  absence  of  nine  or  ten  months;  another  of  the  ab 
sentees  who  will  not  adorn  the  coming  grand  review.  It  is 
due  the  men  of  my  company  who  were  faithful  through  long 
years  of  service  that  a  deep  and  wide  gulf  should  separate 


Recollections  of  Pioneer  and  Army  Life.  337 

them  from  those  who  were  conspicuous  by  their  absence  from 
the  post  of  duty. 

When  the  "coffee -cooler"  was  an  enlisted  man  with  a 
stomach  eaten  out  by  fire-water  before  he  entered  the  service, 
the  offense  was  sufficiently  heinous;  but  where  the  shirk  was 
a  commissioned  officer,  drawing  liberal  pay,  we  stood  in  need 
of  an  endowment  akin  to  the  miraculous  to  endure  patiently 
a  man  so  shamelessly  indifferent  to  every  sense  of  honor  as 
to  prefer  the  associations  of  "Smoky  Row"  to  the  manly 
discharge  of  his  obligations  to  the  men  whose  suffrages  sup 
plied  his  shoulder-straps  and  the  salary  for  which  the  Govern 
ment  received  no  adequate  return.  Our  one  compensation  lay 
in  the  conviction  that  his  room  was  better  than  his  company. 

Recently  promoted  officers  in  Washington,  drawing  pay 
on  final  statements.  Wife  of  Capt.  McGrath,  of  Philadelphia, 
in  camp  to  meet  her  husband. 

Orders  received  this  eve  to  march  to  Long  Bridge  at  8 130 
to-morrow.  We  do  not  hope  to  compete  successfully  with  the 
Army  of  the  Potomac  at  the  coming  review.  In  discipline,  in 
drill,  in  physique,  we  are  superior  to  the  Eastern  Army;  but  we 
shall  not  be  so  well  dressed  and  will  not  appear  so  well  to 
the  superficial  observer.  The  Eastern  people  have  an  erroneous 
notion  of  us.  They  think  we  are  a  rabble ! 

23d.  Broke  camp  at  8.  Column  moved  to  camp  between 
Alexandria  and  Washington  to  be  close  to  the  Capitol  at  the 
appointed  hour  for  review.  I  did  not  move  with  the  column 
to-day;  but,  in  company  with  Maj.-Surg.  Ritchey  and  Acting 
Quartermaster  Hughes,  mounted  and  rode  to  Mt.  Vernon, 
eight  miles  distant.  View  from  Rose  Hill  of  the  valley  in 
which  Mt.  Vernon  is  situated.  Lunch  at  a  freedman's,  a  de 
scendant  of  one  of  Washington's  emancipated  blacks— straw 
berries — returned  in  evening — views  of  Potomac — views  of 
Washington  and  Alexandria  from  bluff — cross  into  Alexan 
dria — lunch  at  restaurant — reached  camp  at  sunset,  having 
spent  some  hours  at  Mt.  Vernon,  minutely  inspecting  the  place, 
to  form  some  conception  of  the  home  life  of  the  First  President. 


338  Recollections  of  Pioneer  and  Army  Life. 

24th.  Broke  camp  at  6  and  moved  across  Long  Bridge 
to  Washington.  Met  Lieut.  Porter,  i6th  111.  Lee's  residence 
off  our  left.  Around  the  Capitol  building  to  suburbs  and 
massed.  At  9  A.  M.  moved  forward — inscriptions — brilliant 
pageant — emerged  from  the  thronged  Capitol  at  12  M.  Moved 
out  on  a  continuation  of  i4th  Street  to  camp — right  of  road 
in  woods.  Our  army  did  splendidly.  Pennsylvania  Avenue 
was  brilliantly  decorated  with  the  national  colors  and  placards 
of  welcome. 

At  the  Treasury  building  the  old  "Tenth"  received  its 
full  measure  of  applause  for  its  steady  lines  and  finely  ex 
ecuted  changes  of  direction.  But,  notwithstanding  the  flood- 
tide  of  exultation,  the  Capitol  was  lonesome  in  the  absence 
of  Abraham  Lincoln.  The  President  and  the  Cabinet,  Gen. 
Sherman,  and  other  distinguished  men  were  on  the  revie wing- 
stand. 

With  Lieuts.  Van  Tuyl  and  Woodard,  visited  the  city  in 
the  evening. 

25th.  Enlarged  booth — sent  a  bit  of  chaff  to  the  Daily 
Chronicle  concerning  our  rations  since  our  return  to  "God's 
country." 

26th.  Visited  the  White  House.  As  I  stepped  into  the 
portico  a  carriage  drove  up,  from  which  Pres.  Johnson  alighted. 
The  doors  of  the  mansion  swung  wide.  We  raised  our  hats, 
and  the  President  returned  the  salute,  bowing  several  times 
to  different  portions  of  the  crowd.  We  were  soon  after  ad 
mitted.  Saw  Gov.  Curtan,  of  Pennsylvania,  in  one  of  the 
upper  chambers.  In  the  East  Room  laborers  were  busy  tak 
ing  down  the  platform  on  which  rested  Pres.  Lincoln's  cata 
falque.  The  Yankee  Vandal  was  present,  as  usual,  with  his 
pocket-knife  out,  splitting  walking-canes  out  of  the  detached 
boards  lying  around.  A  fat  man,  with  an  impatient  air,  in 
quires  the  room  of  the  President.  The  mansion  and  grounds 
precisely  the  same  as  when  I  saw  them  four  years  since,  at 
the  beginning  of  the  struggle,  when  Gen.  Scott  commanded 


Recollections  of  Pioneer  and  Army  Life.  339 

our  armies.  Revisited  the  Capitol  and  all  the  other  places  of 
public  interest. 

Attended  Grover's  Theatre  with  Lieut.  Van  Tuyl,  Brown 
and  Sergt.  Fuller. 

2yth.  With  Capt.  Shaw,  slept  in  city — breakfast  at  cafe" — 
met  with  Jno.  Jackson,  formerly  of  "B,"  now  captain  in  a  Ne 
gro  regiment.  He  gave  me  a  Chronicle  containing  my  squib. 
Visited  Government  buildings  with  Shaw,  who  had  never  seen 
them— camp — Atlanta  baggage  received  this  evening. 

28th.  Enlarged  our  "dog"  tent  with  tents  received  in 
stored  baggage.  This  P.  M.  visit  Crystal  Springs  on  Rock 
Creek  Mossy  spring. 

This  A.  M.  made  out  ordnance  and  commissary  and  general 
equipment  returns.  Went  to  city  with  Maj.  Crenshaw,  25th 
Ind.,  who  drew  pay  on  muster-out  papers  as  captain.  Applied 
to  First  National  Bank  (Jay  Cook  &  Co.)  for  payment — after 
banking  hours — referred  by  an  employee  of  the  bank  to  a 
subordinate,  who  cashed  the  major's  check  for  half  of  one  per 
cent. 

3oth.  Went  to  Ordnance  and  Quartermaster's  Depart 
ments  in  city  to  settle  my  accounts  with  Government.  Could 
not  finish  on  account  of  the  rush — have  to  wait  a  few  days 
on  Quartermaster's  Department.  Both  departments  hard 
pressed.  Met  P.  De  Krigger,  Tillson  and  Gen.  Leggett  at 
Willard's.  Bassett,  "Doc"  of  "B,"  and  Dick  Van  Nostrand, 
"  E"  men,  have  difficulty  with  Invalid  Corps,  City  "Proves". — 
our  boys  overpowered — three  of  "E"  in  guard-house — re 
leased — the  only  defeat  of  "E"  during  the  war. 

Visit  Canterbury  with  captain  of  Army  of  the  Potomac. 

3ist.  Found  on  table  in  tent  on  my  return  from  city  a 
letter  for  "M.  H.  J."  from  Mary  F.  Hamilton,  of  the  Treasury 
Department.  She  read  my  squib  in  the  Chronicle  and  asks 
me  to  dine  with  her!  Good  Lord!  look  at  my  shabby  old 
uniform — -just  out  of  the  woods;  fine  escort  for  a  lady  in  a 
fashionable  cafe"!  I  '11  see  McKinney.  He  's  got  something 


340  Recollections  of  Pioneer  and  Army  Life. 

to  wear!  I  '11  send  him!  Lew  and  McK.  absent  in  city — 
Gen.  Grant  and  wife  passed  in  carriage. 

June  ist.  Lieut.  John  S.  Spear  of  the  Signal  Service, 
Regular  Army,  called — an  old  classmate — pleasant  interview — 
crowds  of  soldiers  going  from  one  general's  headquarters  to 
another,  calling  for  a  speech ! 

2d.  Called  at  the  Quartermaster's  Department  about  pa 
pers.  Sent  note  to  M.  F.  H.  from  Willard's — received  reply — 
fell  in  with  Lieut.  Hankey,  Maj.  Race  and  Simpson,  with  whom 
visited  Smithsonian  Institute  and  Navy  Yard. 

3d.  Went  again  to  Quartermaster-General's  office  on 
business.  Met  in  town  Capt.  Kennedy  and  Lieut.  Fannestah 
of  "K." 

BY  RAIL  TO  PARKERSBURG— DOWN  THE  OHIO  RIVER 
TO  LOUISVILLE. 

4th.  Received  note  from  Com.  Div.  "C"  of  M.  Called 
on  Gen.  Force,  as  requested.  Moving  to  place  me  on  his  staff 
as  ordnance  officer,  which  I  do  not  want — unable  to  call  on 
Miss  Hamilton,  who  sent  me  a  note  and  some  money.  Sent 
McKinney  to  call  on  her — he  took  the  money  and  returned 
it  to  her — he  reported  that  he  found  her  a  very  pleasant  lady, 
of  which  I  have  no  doubt. 

Received  marching  orders  for  5  A.  M.  to-morrow.  Army 
goes  west  to  Louisville,  Ky.  Gen.  Force's  compliments;  came 
to  naught,  perforce,  as  the  army  is  soon  to  dissolve. 

5th.  Broke  camp  at  5  and  marched  to  depot  of  B.  & 
O.  R.  R.  Westward  ho!  Relay  house— Bladensburg — Pa- 
tapsco  River  scenery — picnic  parties — factories — night — Har 
per's  Ferry — Western  Virginia — people  cheer  us  and  wave 
handkerchiefs  in  friendly  salutation. 

6th.  Mountain  scenery  —  Potomac — Cumberland — Sani 
tary  Commission — coffee — mountains  increase  in  size — we  as 
cend  the  range — magnificent  views.  As  our  train  poised  on  the 
western  summit,  detained  for  the  moment,  the  hundreds  of 
faces  looking  down  a  sheer  perpendicular  hundreds  of  feet  be- 


Recollections  of  Pioneer  and  Army  Life.  341 

low  upon  the  roof  of  a  farm-house  and  the  beautiful  level  fields 
stretching  far  away,  an  involuntary  chorus  of  cheers  from  our 
car  windows  woke  the  echoes  of  the  hills  around  us. 

yth.  Breakfast  at  Thornton — Grafton — McKinney  leaves 
us,  as  usual — country  rough — petroleum  scaffolding  and  der 
ricks—  Kanawha  River — Parkersburg — leave  train  and  go  into 
camp  on  bank  of  Kanawha,  with  orders  to  move  at  5 — bath. 

8th.  Broke  camp  and  marched  through  Parkersburg  to 
levee,  which  we  found  crowded  with  steamers — left  wing  of  our 
regiment  boarded  the  Marmora,  right  wing  the  Camelia — large 
number  of  steamers  accompanied  us,  bearing  the  other  regi 
ments  of  our  division — Blennerhassett's  Island ;  farms  thereon 
— went  to  shoals,  where  we  reshipped  on  steamers  awaiting  us — 
our  entire  regiment  boarded  the  Empire  City — greeting  along 
the  shores  by  the  people — our  pilot  being  unacquainted  with 
the  channel  of  the  upper  Ohio,  had  to  lay  up  for  the  night  just 
below  Gallipolis. 

9th.  Rested  well  last  night — Maysville — scenery  im 
proving — hills  cultivated;  covered  with  orchards  and  vine 
yards — found  violin  and  guitar  aboard;  Jim  Boyd  and  "Doc" 
Craig  musicians;  excellent  music.  Night — Cincinnati — run  till 
12  and  laid  by  till  daylight. 

loth.  Warsaw — Madison — Louisville  at  12  M. — disem 
barked  and  marched  to  camp  five  miles  west  of  city  on  banks  of 
Ohio — regiment  attracted  some  attention  passing  through  the 
streets — camped  on  bad  ground;  swampy,  miasmatic,  and 
swarming  with  mosquitoes — rumor  that  we  will  be  paid  and 
furloughed. 

nth.  A  camp  rumor  that  84th  111.  passed  through  Louis 
ville  last  evening  mustered  out — having  no  rations  in  camp, 
dined  at  Louisville  Hotel — our  regiment  was  offered  provost 
duty  in  city;  Col.  Gillespie  declined — 43d  Ohio  went — got  note 
from  McKinney  for  $480,  monument  money. 

1 2th.  After  some  delay,  we  changed  camp  to  high,  open 
ground,  where  we  were  paid  off,  the  army  receiving  an  immense 
sum  in  greenbacks,  crisp  and  new,  direct  from  the  Mint.  [Mem. 


342  Recollection's  of  Pioneer  and  Army  Life. 

— Across  the  interval  of  forty-five  years,  I  recall  Father  Linell, 
our  chaplain,  trying  to  hold  the  attention  of  a  confused  mass  of 
restless  soldiery  while  he  proved  that  all  men  would  be  saved. 
"It  is  a  fact  and  I  can  prove  it,"  said  the  chaplain.  The  pock 
ets  of  the  men  were  full  of  greenbacks  and  their  heads  full  of  a 
speedy  and  final  discharge  from  the  army,  and  if  they  were  all 
going  to  be  saved,  what 's  the  use  of  a  pother  about  it?  and 
much  as  they  loved  the  old  chaplain,  he  could  not  hold  them.] 

At  Louisville,  the  troops  having  nothing  to  do  but  to  wait 
the  pleasure  of  the  Government,  I  took  a  furlough  for  thirty 
days,  and  when  I  boarded  the  train  for  St.  Louis  I  found  my 
self  in  the  company  of  Gen.  James  D.  Morgan,  our  old  divi 
sion  commander.  The  train  was  packed  to  suffocation,  and 
we  sat  down  on  our  grips  on  the  narrow  platform  of  the  old- 
fashioned  cars,  where  we  were  hammered  and  jammed  and 
trodden  upon  from  4  p.  M.  till  midnight  before  we  could  get  in 
side.  The  general  sat  patiently  through  it  all  without  offering  a 
word  of  complaint.  In  St.  Louis  I  went  to  bed  and  slept,  and 
kept  on  sleeping  till  they  were  about  to  break  down  the  door 
of  my  room  with  a  battering-ram,  for  I  had  secured  myself 
against  intruders  in  case  I  slept  beyond  my  call.  When  I 
awoke  it  was  upon  a  new  heaven  and  a  new  earth,  for  old  things 
had  passed  away.  I  was  glad  to  be  in  the  dear  old  city  which 
was  my  father's  trade  Mecca  in  the  old  days.  To  this  port 
his  cargoes  of  grain  and  pork  and  other  and  minor  produce 
were  shipped  and  from  thence  went  his  shipments  of  merchan 
dise  home.  Among  some  trifles  purchased  in  the  city  was  a 
pair  of  shoes,  for  which  I  paid  $14.00  (war  prices);  I  can  buy 
as  good  now  for  $5.00. 

While  the  days  were  passing  by,  I  took  the  train  for  Gales- 
burg  and  thence  down  to  Monmouth.  It  was  a  sunny,  peacefu  1 
day  in  June  when  a  young  soldier,  who  had  entered  the  Army 
under  age  at  the  fall  of  Sumter,  stepped  from  the  carriage  to  the 
walk  in  his  twenty-fourth  year,  rather  the  worse  for  the  wear. 
As  he  passed  through  the  gate  his  mother,  her  dear  old  face 
wreathed  in  smiles,  came  and  placed  her  arm  around  him  and 


Recollections  of  Pioneer  and  Army  Life.  343 

drew  him  within  the  sanctuary  of  home  as  one  rescued  from 
some  dire  fate. 

I  met  my  regiment  at  Camp  Douglas,  Chicago,  where  we 
were  discharged  to  date,  the  4th  of  July,  1865. 


APPENDIX. 


General  Orders,  {      HEADQUARTERS  IJTH  ARMY  CORPS. 

No.  i.         j  Goldsboro,  N.  C.,  March  24,  1865. 

The  badge  now  used  by  the  corps  being  similar  to  one 
formerly  adopted  by  another  corps,  the  major-general  com 
manding  has  concluded  to  adopt,  as  a  distinguishing  badge  for 
this  command,  an  arrow. 

In  its  swiftness,  in  its  surety  of  striking  where  wanted,  and 
in  its  destructive  powers,  when  so  intended  it  is  probably  as 
emblematical  of  this  corps  as  any  design  that  could  be  adopted. 
The  arrow  for  divisions  will  be  two  inches  long  and  for  corps 
headquarters  one  and  one-half  inches. 

The  ist  (Division  arrow  will  be  red ;  the  3d  Division,  white ; 
and  the  4th  Division,  blue. 

The  Qth  Illinois  Mounted  Infantry,  same  as  the  4th  Divis 
ion;  and  for  corps  headquarters  it  will  be  of  gold  or  any  metal, 
gilt. 

The  badge  will  be  worn  on  the  hat  or  cap. 

It  is  expected  that  every  officer  and  man  in  the  command 
will,  as  soon  as  practicable,  assume  his  badge. 

The  wagons  and  ambulances  will  be  marked  with  the  badge 
of  their  respective  commands;  the  arrow  being  twelve  inches 
long. 

By  command  of  MAJ.-GEN.  F.  P.  BLAIR. 
Official:  (Signed)    C.  CADLE,  JR.,  A.  A.  Gen'l. 

CHAS.  CHRISTENSEN,  Lieut.,  A.  d.  C.  &  A.  A.  Gen'l. 


Recollections  of  Pioneer  and  Army  Life.  345 


STATE  OF  CALIFORNIA,  EXECUTIVE  DEPARTMENT. 
Sacramento,  January  2,  1865. 

Maj.-Gen.  W .  T.  Sherman,  Savannah: 

The  series  of  victories  which  have  attended  your  army 
during  the  past  year— the  capture  of  Atlanta,  the  triumphant 
march  from  Atlanta  to  the  sea-coast,  and  the  subsequent  cap 
ture  of  Savannah — have  filled  the  hearts  of  all  who  love  their 
country  with  joy,  and  justly  entitle  you  to  the  profound  grati 
tude  of  the  Nation.  For  and  on  behalf  of  the  people  of  this 
State  I  beg  to  tender  you,  and  through  you  to  the  officers  and 
soldiers  under  your  command,  my  heart-felt  thanks  for  the 
signal  services  your  army  has  rendered  to  the  cause  of  civiliza 
tion,  liberty,  humanity,  and  good  government. 

To  you  as  their  great  leader  I  tender  my  cordial  congratu 
lations,  with  the  prayer  that  God  may  preserve  and  protect 
you  to  lead  the  victorious  hosts  of  the  Republic  on  to  still 
greater  victories,  even  to  the  conquering  of  an  honorable  and 
permanent  peace. 

I  am,  General,    gratefully, 

Your  obedient  servant, 

Official:  (Signed)    FRED  T.  Low,  Governor. 

(Signed)     L.  M.  DAYTON,  A.  A.  G. 


346  Recollections  of  Pioneer  and  Army  Life. 


A  photograph  of  the  pot-trammels  (alias  "pot- 
' hooks")  made  by  James  Jamison  over  a  peat  fire  in 
Londonderry,  Ireland,  in  the  year  1690,  during  the 
siege  of  that  place  by  the  Irish,  led  by  King  James 
Ij.  They  were  brought  to  America  in  the  year  1713 
by  John  Jamison.who  settled  in  Little  Britain  Town 
ship,  Lancaster  County,  Pennsylvania. 

After  the  death  of  John  and  his  son  Samuel 
Jamison,  they  became  the  property  of  James  Jami 
son,  who  took  them  with  him  to  Virginia  and  thence 
to  Kentucky  in  1798,  thence  to  Perry  County,  Indi 
ana  in  1820,  where  he  died  in  1821,  and  his  unmar 
ried  daughter  Sallie  fell  heir  to  the  pot-trammels  and 
carried  them  with  her  when  she  removed  to  Hen 
derson  County,- Illinois,  in  1840,  where  she  lived  to 
the  age  of  eighty-five,  and  before  her  death  she  gave 
the  trammels  to  her'grand-nephew  James  Shoemak 
er,  who  removed  to  southwest  Nebraska,  where  this 
photograph  was  recently  taken. 

The  hooks  are  in  a  good  state  of  preservation 
at  the  age  of  221  years.  They  have  been  in  Amer 
ica  198  years. 


BEMENT,  TEXAS,  October  3,  1899. 
Matthew  H.  Jamison: 

DEAR  COUSIN, — James  Jamison  was  the  son  of  Samuel 
Jamison,  Sr.,  and  brother  to  Capt.  Adam,  John,  Samuel,  Jr., 
William  and  Col.  Joseph,  and  was  the  grandfather  of  the  writer, 
S.  S.  Jamison.  My  sister  Margaret,  now  living  in  southwest 
Iowa,  at  the  age  of  eighty-six  years,  informs  me  she  ate  mush 
made  in  a  pot  hanging  on  those  hooks  over  the  fire  at  Grand 
father  James  Jamison's  in  Grayson  County,  Kentucky,  seventy- 
seven  years  ago;  so  they  are  no  myth,  but  a  genuine  antique 
heirloom  of  the  old  Jamison  family. 

Sincerely  yours,  S.  S.  JAMISON. 


Recollections  of  Pioneer  and  Army  Life.  347 

PATRIOTISM  OF  ILLINOIS. 


The  State  had  a  population  in  1860  of  1,704,323.  She 
sent  into  the  field  during  the  Civil  War  258,217  of  her  brave 
sons,  of  whom  28,642  were  killed  in  battle  or  died  of  wounds 
and  disease.  Henderson  County,  in  1860,  had  a  population 
of  9,499,  and  1,153  °f  her  sons  represented  her  on  many  battle 
fields  in  the  years  1861-65.  Some  of  the  larger  and  more 
populous  counties  in  the  Commonwealth  maintained  the  cause 
of  the  Union  at  a  greater  sacrifice,  but  none  of  them  with 
a  stronger  devotion. 


In  the  year  1863  I  saw  the  statement  in  the  New  York 
Observer,  a  Presbyterian  religious  weekly  (none  too  loyal  to 
the  cause  of  the  Union,  however),  that  Gen.  Joe  Hooker, 
on  the  eve  of  the  battle  of  Chancellorsville,  declared  that  God 
Almighty  himself  could  not  prevent  him  achieving  a  victory 
over  Lee's  army.  It  may  have  been  no  more  than  a  shrewd 
guess  at  Hooker's  well-known  mental  predilections. 


Gen.  John  Pope, of  Illinois,  in  command  of  the  Army  of 
the  Mississippi  in  its  operations  around  New  Madrid  and  the 
capture  of  the  Confederates  in  their  efforts  to  escape  from 
Island  No.  10,  was  known  at  times  to  be  very  insolent  and 
blasphemous  toward  the  Volunteer  officers,  he  himself  being 
a  West  Pointer.  His  "  headquarters-in-the-saddle "  order,  on 
taking  command  in  Virginia,  was  a  type  of  the  man  with  his 
head  turned,  and  quite  in  line  with  Hooker's  mental  athletics. 
It  is  a  remarkable  coincidence  that  both  men  were  brought 
low  in  a  very  striking  manner. 

It  is  also  true  that  Gens.  Grant,  Sherman  and  Thomas 
were  neither  blasphemous  nor  obscene,  but  men  of  pure 
thought  and  high  aims  under  all  conditions.  Gen.  Sherman 


348  Recollections  of  Pioneer  and  Army  Life. 

would  indeed  throw  off  a  "cuss- word"  at  times,  which,  with 
him,  was  no  more  than  a  verbal  nourish.  All  of  them,  and 
many  other  Union  officers  I  might  name,  held  woman  in  su 
preme  respect,  and  that  is  accounted  to  be  the  foundation 
of  genuine  morality. 


The  Union  officers  given  to  strong  drink  died  early.  I 
can  not  recall  one  who  lived  beyond  middle  life. 

They  were  susceptible  to  malignant  disease,  such  as  ty 
phoid  and  yellow  fever.  Almost  without  exception,  they  were 
the  true  sons  of  Mars,  who  dared  to  lead  the  forlorn  hope  at 
every  hazard  and  to  the  last  extremity.  Of  such  was  Gen 
eral  Joe  Mower.  None  of  them,  from  Alexander  to  Napoleon, 
ever  shared  the  fortunes  of  a  finer  soldier.  When  the  deep 
pulsations  of  the  rebel  batteries,  as  under  Van  Dorn  and  Price 
at  Corinth,  filled  the  air  with  sulphuric  grape  and  canister, 
"Old  Joe"  would  advance,  spurn  the  fate  that  awaited  him, 
and  come  out  of  it  all  his  face  transfigured  with  the  flame  of 
battle1  The  boys  of  the  old  "Tenth  Illinois"  can  never  forget 
Gen.  Mower  and  his  aide,  Capt.  De  Grass. 


There  was  dark  disloyalty  in  the  Church  in  1861. 

Old  Dr.  Pressley,  of  the  United  Presbyterianh  Curch  at 
Pittsburgh,  Pa.,  was  a  genuine  "Copperhead,"  and  his  relative 
who  founded  the  Public  Library  at  Monmouth,  111.,  disin 
herited  his  son  because  he  enlisted  in  the  Union  Army ! 


European  Globe-trotters  have  come  to  this  country 
to  see  the  American  method  of  slaughtering  hogs  and  curing 
the  pork  on  a  colossal  and  economic  scale.  Some  of  these  vis 
itors,  at  the  first  glimpse  of  the  endless  chain  of  pigs  descend 
ing  to  the  knife  on  the  overhead  trolley,  gagged  at  the  sight 
and  retreated !  After  slaughter,  the  pig  in  the  packing-house 


Recollections  of  Pioneer  and  Army  Life.  349 

is  dene  up  with  such  minuteness — hair,  ears,  eyebrows,  as 
cending  and  descending  colon,  vermiform  appendix,  hoofs,  his 
last  and  undigested  meal,  that  the  floor  will  be  scanned  with 
a  microscope  to  see  if  they  haven't  missed  something.  Now, 
it  was  different  in  the  early  fifties  in  the  slaughter-  and  packing 
house  of  Jamison  &  McKinney  at  the  Yellow  Banks.  The  work 
was  carried  on  with  method  and  dispatch  by  hand,  but  with 
incredible  waste  also.  The  spare-ribs  went  begging  for  a  mar 
ket  at  one  cent  a  pound,  and  I  have  seen  pork  tenderloins  cast 
outside  by  the  ton  and  rotting  for  the  want  of  consumers. 


The  Columbus,  Ga.,  Sun  and  Times  claimed  the  follow 
ing  letter  was  found  in  the  streets  of  Columbia,  S.  C.,  after 
the  army  of  Gen.  Sherman  had  left.  The  rebel  paper  claimed 
that  the  original  had  been  preserved,  and  can  be  shown  and 
substantiated,  which,  of  course,  is  a  gross  falsehood.  It  is 
inserted  here  as  a  "Secesh"  curiosity.  Old  Henry  Clay  Dean, 
of  "Rebels'  Cove,"  Mo.,  is  the  only  "Copperhead"  who  had 
the  "gall"  to  vouch  for  it. 

"CAMP  NEAR  CAMDEN,  S.  C.,  February  26,  1865. 

"MY  DEAR  WIFE, — I  have  no  time  for  particulars.  We 
have  had  a  glorious  time  in  this  State.  Unrestricted  license 
to  burn  and  plunder  was  the  order  of  the  day.  The  chivalry 
have  been  stripped  of  most  of  their  valuables.  Gold  watches, 
silver  pitchers,  cups,  spoons,  forks,  etc.,  are  as  common  in 
camp  as  blackberries.  The  terms  of  plunder  are  as  follows: 
Each  company  is  required  to  exhibit  the  results  of  its  oper 
ations  at  any  given  place — one-fifth  and  first  choice  falls  to 
the  share  of  the  Commander-in-chief  and  staff;  one-fifth  to 
the  corps  commanders  and  staff;  one-fifth  to  field  officers  of 
regiments ;  and  two-fifths  to  the  company. 

"Officers  are  not  allowed  to  join  these  expeditions  with 
out  disguising  themselves  as  privates.  One  of  our  corps  com 
manders  borrowed  a  suit  of  rough  clothes  from  one  of  my 


350  Recollections  of  Pioneer  and  Army  Life. 

men,  and  was  successful  in  this  place.  He  got  a  large  quan 
tity  of  silver  (among  other  things  an  old-time  milk  pitcher) 
and  a  very  fine  gold  watch  from  a  Mrs.  De  Saussure,  at  this 
place.  De  Saussure  was  one  of  the  F.  F.  V.s  of  S.  C.,  and 
was  made  to  fork  over  liberally.  Officers  over  the  rank  of 
captain  are  not  made  to  put  their  plunder  in  the  estimate  for 
general  distribution.  This  is  very  unfair,  and  for  that  reason, 
in  order  to  protect  themselves,  subordinate  officers  and  pri 
vates  keep  back  everything  that  they  can  carry  about  their 
persons,  such  as  rings,  ear-rings,  breast-pins,  etc.,  of  which, 
if  I  ever  get  home,  I  have  about  a  quart.  I  am  not  joking — 
I  have  at  least  a  quart  of  jewelry  for  you  and  all  the  girls, 
and  some  No.  i  diamond  rings  and  pins  among  them. 

"Gen.  Sherman  has  silver  and  gold  enough  to  start  a 
bank.  His  share  in  gold  watches  alone  at  Columbia  was  two 
hundred  and  seventy-five.  But  I  said  I  could  not  go  into 
particulars.  All  the  general  officers  and  many  besides  had 
valuables  of  every  description,  down  to  the  embroidered  la 
dies'  pocket-handkerchiefs.  I  have  my  share  of  them,  too. 

We  took  gold  and  silver  enough  from  the  d d  rebels  to 

have  redeemed  their  infernal  currency  twice  over.  This  (the 
currency),  whenever  we  came  across  it,  we  burned,  as  we 
considered  it  utterly  worthless. 

"I  wish  all  the  jewelry  this  army  has  could  be  carried 
to  the  'Old  Bay  State.'  It  would  deck  her  out  in  glorious 
style;  but,  alas!  it  will  be  scattered  all  over  the  Northern 

States.  The  d d  niggers,  as  a  general  rule,  prefer  to  stay 

at  home,  particularly  after  they  found  out  that  we  only  wanted 
the  able-bodied  men  (and,  to  tell  you  the  truth,  the  youngest 
and  best-looking  women).  Sometimes  we  took  off  whole  fam 
ilies  and  plantations  of  niggers,  by  way  of  repaying  Secession 
ists.  But  the  useless  part  of  them  we  soon  manage  to  lose; 
sometimes  in  crossing  rivers,  sometimes  in  other  ways. 

"I  shall  write  to  you  again  from  Wilmington,  Goldsboro, 

or  some  other  place  in  N.  C.  The  order  to  march  has  arrived, 
and  I  must  close  hurriedly.  Love  to  grandmother  and  Aunt 


Recollections  of  Pioneer  and  Army  Life.  351 

Charlotte.     Take  care  of  yourself  and  children.     Don't  show 
this  letter  outside  of  the  family. 

"Your  affectionate  husband, 

"THOS.  J.  MYERS,  Lieut.,  etc. 

"P.  S. — I  will  send  this  by  the  first  flag  of  truce  to  be 
mailed,  unless  I  have  an  opportunity  of  sending  it  to  Hilton 
Head.  Tell  Sallie  I  am  saving  a  pearl  bracelet  and  ear-rings 
for  her;  but  Lambert  got  the  necklace  and  breast-pin  of  the 
same  set.  I  am  trying  to  trade  him  out  of  them.  These  were 
taken  from  the  Misses  Jamison,  daughters  of  the  President  of 
the  South  Carolina  Convention.  We  found  these  on  our  trip 
through  Georgia." 


GEN.  JEFF  C.  DAVIS  AT  ATLANTA. 


Too  SICK  TO  Go  IN  THE  FIGHT  OP  JULY  28,  1864,  THOUGH  HE 
MADE  THE  EFFORT. 


Communicated  to  the  National  Tribune  by 
Capt.   David   R.   Waters. 


With  a  view  to  some  comments  on  the  battle  of  July  28, 
1864,  before  Atlanta,  I  desire  to  prelude  with  the  following 
extracts  from  Gen.  Sherman's  "  Memoirs"  : 

"As  Gen.  Jeff  C.  Davis'  division  was,  as  it  were,  left  out  of 
line,  I  ordered  it  on  the  evening  before  to  march  down  toward 
Turner's  Ferry  and  then  to  take  a  road  laid  down  on  our  maps 
which  led  from  there  toward  Eastport,  ready  to  engage  any 
enemy  that  might  attack  our  right  flank;  after  the  same  man 
ner  as  had  been  done  to  the  left  flank  on  the  22d.  *  *  *  As 
the  skirmish  fire  warmed  up  along  the  5th  Corps,  I  became  con 
vinced  that  Hood  designed  to  attack  this  right  flank  to  prevent, 
if  possible,  the  extension  of  our  line  in  that  direction.  I  re 
gained  my  horse,  rode  rapidly  back  to  see  that  Davis'  division 
had  been  dispatched  as  ordered.  I  found  Gen.  Davis  in  person, 
who  was  unwell,  and  had  sent  his  division  that  morning  early 
under  the  command  of  his  senior  brigadier,  Morgan;  but,  as  I 
attached  great  importance  to  the  movement,  he  mounted  his 
horse  and  rode  away  to  overtake  and  hurry  forward  the  move 
ment,  so  as  to  come  up  on  the  left  rear  of  the  enemy  during  the 
expected  battle.  *  *  *  At  no  instant  of  time  did  I  feel 
the  least  uneasiness  about  the  result  of  the  28th,  but  wanted  to 


Recollections  of  Pioneer  and  Army  Life.  353 

reap  fuller  results,  hoping  that  Davis'  division  would  come  up 
at  the  instant  of  defeat  and  catch  the  enemy  in  flank,  but  the 
woods  were  dense,  the  roads  obscure,  and,  as  usual,  the  division 
got  on  the  wrong  road  and  did  not  come  into  position  until 
about  dark." 

On  the  day  of  this  battle  I  was  serving  as  a  volunteer  aid 
with  Gen.  Jeff  C.  Davis,  having  resigned  from  the  service  the 
previous  April,  but  upon  his  invitation  I  had  joined  his  head 
quarters  the  day  before  his  division  crossed  the  Chattahoochee. 
On  the  28th  his  headquarters  were  at  a  house  on  our  right,  near 
the  left  of  Blair.  When  Gen.  Sherman  arrived  Gen.  Davis  was 
sick  in  bed.  The  corps  commander,  Gen.  J.  M.  Palmer,  was 
seated  on  a  porch  in  front  of  the  room  occupied  by  Davis,  into 
which  were  open  windows.  Gen.  Shermanlwas  excited  and 
very  impatient.  He  censured  Palmer  for  a  mistake  in  the  order 
to  Davis  that  was  misleading  Gen.  James  D.  Morgan.  Palmer 
resented  Sherman's  reflections  on  him,  and  insisted  that  he  had 
given  the  order  precisely  as  Sherman  had  issued  it.  Here  was 
the  beginning  of  the  estrangement  that  arose  between  Sherman 
and  Palmer  that  resulted  in  Palmer's  retirement  from  Sher 
man's  command  and  the  placing  of  Gen".  Jeff  C.  Davis  in  com 
mand  of  the  14th  Corps  in  the  march  to  the  sea  and  to  the  end 
of  the  war. 

Finally,  nervously  chewing  a  cigar  and  pacing  the  porch, 
Sherman  exclaimed:  "I  wish  to  God  Davis  was  in  command 
of  his  division  to-day."  Davis  heard  this  remark,  and  imme 
diately  arose  and  dressed.  His  horse  was  brought  out,  and  the 
staff  ordered  to  mount.  His  colored  servant  assisted  him  into 
the  saddle,  but  upon  gaining  his  seat  he  fainted  and  would  have 
fallen  had  he  not  been  caught.  He  was  carried  back  to  his 
bed,  entirely  unable  to  ride.  Every  effort  possible  was  made 
by  the  staff  to  find  Morgan  and  bring  the  division  into  the 
fight  on  Hood's  left,  while  Logan  was  repeatedly  repulsing  with 
pitiful  slaughter  the  brave  enemy  who  charged  his  front  again 
and  again.  Logan  reported  765  dead  out  of  Hood's  charging 
column  in  his  front.  Had  Morgan  got  into  action  as  Sherman 


354  Recollections  of  Pioneer  and  Army  Life. 

planned,  Hood's  army  would  have  been  routed  and  Atlanta 
won  without  Jonesboro,  for  the  division  was  strong,  finely  dis 
ciplined,  and  veterans,  who  had  met  the  enemy  in  every  fight 
from  Nashville  to  Atlanta,  besides  Island  No.  10  and  Corinth. 
I  cannot  understand  why  Gen.  Sherman  so  spitefully  alludes  to 
Morgan's  failure  by  saying:  "As  usual,  this  division  got  on 
the  wrong  road."  I  never  knew  it  to  be  misled  before.  Gen. 
Davis  was  beyond  all  question  a  brave  and  skilled  officer  and 
always  enjoyed  the  confidence  of  Gen.  Sherman. 

I  am  constrained  to  write  these  particulars  of  that  eventful 
day  in  vindication  of  the  gallant  Davis,  who  was  not  merely 
unwell,  as  stated  by  Sherman,  but  a  very  sick  man,  in  bed,  and 
was  wholly  unable  to  ride  to  his  command,  although  he  made 
a  determined  effort  to  do  so. 


STOP  THIS  SILLINESS. 


The  National  Tribune  submits  the  following  table  and 
comment : 

"The  number  of  ninety-day  men  and  'eleventh-hour'  sol 
diers  is  being  worked  to  death  by  those  who  are  opposed  to 
pension  legislation,  and  are  using  it  with  some  effect  to  create 
dissension  in  the  ranks  of  the  veterans.  It  is  twin  brother  to  the 
other  clamor  used  so  effectively  for  the  same  purpose  about  the 
number  of  deserters,  bounty-jumpers,  and  shirks  on  the  pension- 
roll.  Comrades  should  pay  no  attention  whatever  to  this 
clamor  from  outsiders  and  discountenance  it  among  themselves. 
It  has  little  basis  in  truth,  and  conveys  a  prejudiced  view  of 
the  constitution  of  the  Army  which  put  down  the  rebellion. 
While  the  ninety-day  men  did  their  share,  they  were  relatively 
very  few  at  that  time  and  are  quite  as  few  to-day.  This  is  not  a 
matter  of  mere  assertion,  but  is  strongly  supported  by  the  actual 
figures.  Some  time  ago  Commissioner  Davenport  decided  to 


Recollections  of  Pioneer  and  Army  Life.  355 

have  the  services  of  the  pensioners  as  shown  by  his  rolls  col 
lated  and  compared,  and  he  was  astonished  at  the  result,  as  all 
other  students  of  statistics  are.  We  have  all  of  us  become  more 
or  less  affected  by  these  exaggerated  reports.  At  that  time 
there  were  541,739  pensioners  on  the  rolls,  and  the  services  of 
those  men  were  as  follows : 

Percentage.  Number. 

Served  4  years  or  more " 042  22,753 

Served  3  years  and  less  than  4  years 203  109,973 

Served  2  years  and  less  than  3  years 221  119,724 

Served  i  year  and  less  than  2  years 244  132,185 

Served  6  months  and  less  than  i  year 203  109,973 

Served  3  months  and  less  than  6  months 084  45,506 

Served  i  month  and  less  than  3  months 003  1,625 


541,739 

"A  study  of  this  table  will  be  very  interesting  to  everyone. 
From  this  it  would  appear  that  the  entire  number  of  men  who 
served  less  than  six  months  was  only  45,506,  or  less  than  one  in 
eight  of  the  whole.  One  man  out  of  every  five  served  less  than 
a  year,  and  one  man  out  of  every  four  served  less  than  two  years. 
About  the  same  proportions  served  less  than  three  years  and 
less  than  four  years.  Therefore,  this  blathering  about  the  three- 
months  men  is  concentrating  all  the  attention  upon  one  man 
to  the  exclusion  of  consideration  of  the  seven  men  who  ren 
dered  much  longer  service  and  bore  a  heavy  portion  of  the 


A  GRAY  TRIBUTE  TO  LINCOLN 


HENRY  WATTERSON  MADE  THE  SPEECH  OF  PRESENTATION 
THE  STATUE  IN  THE  STATE  CAPITOL  OF  KENTUCKY, 
ON  NOVEMBER  8,   1911. 


While  the  President  of  the  United  States  and  a  large 
assemblage  of  people,  including  many  of  those  who  wore  the 
gray  in  the  conflict  between  the  North  and  the  South,  looked 
on,  an  heroic  bronze  statue  of  Abraham  Lincoln  was  unveiled 
in  the  Capitol  building. 

"Proof  of  a  reunited  country,"  said  Governor  Willson.of 
Kentucky,  in  accepting  the  statue  on  behalf  of  the  State,  is 
made  evident  in  the  selection  of  Henry  Watte r son,  a  Con 
federate  soldier,  to  present  this  image  of  the  great  President 
to  the  people  of  his  native  State.  The  greatness  and  the 
goodness,  the  nobility  and  the  sweetness  of  Abraham  Lincoln 
are  recognized  as  earnestly  by  those  who  wore  the  gray  as  by 
those  who  wore  the  blue."  The  unveiling  of  the  Lincoln 
statue  in  the  rotunda  in  the  Kentucky  Capitol  preceded  the 
dedication  of  the  Lincoln  Monument  at  Hodgenville,  Ky.,  by 
a  day.  Many  of  those  who  came  from  distant  States  to 
Frankfort  to  attend  the  exercises  continued  their  journey  to 
Hodgenville. 

Near  there  is  the  Lincoln  farm,  where  the  cabin  in  which 
Abraham  Lincoln  was  bora  is  now  preserved  in  a  monumental 
structure,  recently  completed.  It  was  the  dedication  of  this 
memorial  which  brought  President  Taf  t  and  others  of  note  to 
Hodgenville. 


358 


HENRY  WATTERSON  ON  LINCOLN. 


PERSONAL  REMINISCENCES  ADDED  TO  THE  INTEREST  OF  THE 
EDITOR'S  ADDRESS. 


[Frankfort,  Ky.,  November  8,  1911. 

Henry  Watterson,  editor  of  the  Louisville  Courier- Journal, 
delivered  an  address  on  Abraham  Lincoln  at  the  unveiling  of 
the  Lincoln  Memorial.  Mr.  Watterson's  oration  was  devoted 
mainly  to  the  personality,  the  origin  and  spiritual  life  and 
character  of  Abraham  Lincoln.  He  gave  a  minute  account  of 
the  Lincoln  and  Hanks  families,  derived  from  documentary 
evidence;  disproved  the  falsehoods  touching  Lincoln's  birth, 
and  traced  his  noble  qualities  of  head  and  heart  to  his  mother. 
In  concluding  this  passage  he  said : 

"To-morrow  there  will  assemble  in  a  little  clearing  of  the 
wildwood  of  Kentucky  a  goodly  company.  The  President  and 
the  Chief  Justice  and  the  rest  will  gather  about  a  lowly  cabin 
to  consecrate  a  shrine.  Of  him  that  was  born  there  the  final 
earthly  word  was  spoken  long  ago;  but,  Mother  of  God,  shall 
that  throng  pass  down  the  hillside  and  away  without  looking 
into  the  heaven  above  in  unutterable  love  and  homage  with 
the  thought  of  a  spirit  there  which  knew  in  this  world  naught 
of  splendor  and  power  and  fame ;  whose  sad  lot  it  was  to  live 
and  die  in  obscurity,  struggle,  almost  in  penury  and  squalor; 
whose  tragic  fate  it  was,  after  she  had  lain  half  a  lifetime  in 
her  humble,  unmarked  grave,  to  be  pursued  by  the  deepest, 
darkest  calumny  that  can  attach  itself  to  the  name  of  woman ; 
the  hapless,  the  fair-haired  Nancy  Hanks? 

"No  falser,  fouler  story  ever  gained  currency  than  that 

357 


358  Recollections  of  Pioneer  and  Army  Life. 

which  impeaches  the  character  of  the  mother  of  Abraham 
Lincoln.  It  had  never  any  foundation  whatsoever.  Every 
known  fact  flatly  contradicts  it.  Every  aspect  of  circum 
stantial  evidence  stamps  it  a  preposterous  lie. 

"It  offends  the  soul  of  a  brave  and  just  manhood,  it  should 
arouse  in  the  heart  of  every  true  woman  a  sense  of  wrong  that 
so  much  as  a  shadow  should  rest  upon  the  memory  of  the 
little  cabin  in  which  Nancy  Lincoln  gave  to  the  world  an 
immortal  son,  born  in  clean,  unchallenged  wedlock,  no  thought 
of  taint  or  shame  anywhere." 

Mr.  Watterson  told  the  story  of  Lincoln's  friendship  with 
Joshua  Fry  Speed,  an  uncle  of  the  donor  of  the  statue,  in  the 
early  days  at  Springfield,  111.  He  added: 

"It  is  of  record  that  he  stood  closer  to  Joshua  Fry  Speed 
than  to  any  other.  The  ties  of  early  manhood  between  the 
two  were  never  broken.  To  the  end  Lincoln  could  turn  to 
Speed,  certain  to  get  the  truth,  equally  sure  of  sound  counsel 
and  unselfish  fidelity." 

Mr.  Watterson  told  a  graphic  story  of  the  coming  of  Lin 
coln  to  Washington  and  his  first  inauguration.  His  narrative 
took  the  form  of  a  personal  reminiscence. 

"I  was  engaged  by  Mr.  Gobright,  the  general  manager  of 
the  Associated  Press  in  the  national  capital,"  said  he,  "to 
assist  him  and  Maj.  Ben  Perley  Poore,  a  widely  known  news 
paper  correspondent  of  those  days,  with  their  report  of  the 
inaugural  ceremonies  of  the  4th  of  March,  1861.  The  newly 
elected  President  had  arrived  in  Washington  ten  days  before — 
to  be  exact,  the  morning  of  the  23d  of  February.  It  was  a 
Saturday.  That  same  afternoon  he  came  to  the  Capitol  es 
corted  by  Mr.  Seward,  and  being  on  the  floor  of  the  House,  I 
saw  him  for  the  first  time  and  was,  indeed,  presented  to  him. 

"Early  in  the  morning  of  the  4th  of  March  I  discovered, 
thrust  into  the  keyhole  of  my  bedroom  a  slip  of  paper  which 
read:  'For  Inaugural  Address  see  Col.  Ward  H.  Lamon.' 
Who  was  'Col.  Ward  H.  Lamon'?  I  had  never  heard  of  him. 
The  city  was  crowded  with  strangers.  To  find  one  of  them 


Recollections  of  Pioneer  and  Army  Life.  359 

was  to  look  for  a  needle  in  a  haystack.  I  went  directly  to 
Willard's  Hotel.  As  I  passed  through  the  long  corridor  of 
the  second  floor,  spliced  twith^  little  dark  entryways,^,to  the 
apartments  facing  on  Pennsylvania  Avenue,  I  saw  through 
a  half -opened  door  Mr.  Lincoln  himself  pacing  to  and  fro, 
apparently  reading  a  manuscript.  I  went  straight  in.  He 
was  alone,  and,  as  he  turned  and  met  me,  he  extended  his 
hand,  called  my  name,  and  said:  'What  can  I  do  for  you?' 
I  told  him  my  errand  and  dilemma,  showing  him  the  brief 
memorandum.  'Why,'  said  he,  'you  have  come  to  the  right 
shop;  Lamon  is  in  the  next  room.  I  will  take  you  to  him, 
and  he  will  fix  you  all  right.'  No  sooner  said  than  done,  and 
supplied  with  the  press  copy  of  the  inaugural  address,  I  grate 
fully  and  gleefully  took  my  leave. 

"Two  hours  later  I  found  myself  in  the  Senate  cham 
ber,  witnessing  there  the  oath  of  office  administered  to  Vice- 
President-elect  Hannibal  Hamlin.  Thence  I  followed  the  cor 
tege  through  the  long  passageway  and  across  the  rotunda  to 
the  east  portico,  where  a  temporary  wooden  platform  had  been 
erected,  keeping  close  to  Mr.  Lincoln. 

"He  was  tall  and  ungainly,  wearing  a  black  suit,  a  black 
tie  and  a  black  silk  hat.  He  carried  a  gold-  or  a  silver-headed 
walking-cane.  As  we  came  out  into  the  open  and  upon  the 
provisional  stand,  where  there  was  a  table  containing  a  Bible, 
a  pitcher  and  a  glass  of  water,  he  drew  from  his  breast  pocket 
the  manuscript  I  had  seen  him  reading  at  the  hotel,  laid  this 
before  him,  placing  the  cane  upon  it  as  a  paper-weight,  re 
moved  from  their  leathern  case  his  steel-rimmed  spectacles, 
and  raised  his  hand — he  was  exceedingly  deliberate  and  com 
posed — to  remove  his  hat.  As  he  did  so,  I  lifted  my  hand 
to  receive  it,  but  Judge  Douglas,  who  stood  at  my  side,  reached 
over  my  arm,  took  the  hat,  and  held  it  during  the  delivery 
of  the  inaugural  address,  which  followed. 

"His  self-possession  was  perfect.  Dignity  herself  could 
not  have  been  more  unexcited.  His  voice  was  a  little  high- 
pitched,  but  resonant,  quite  reaching  the  outer  fringes  of  the 


360  Recollections  of  Pioneer  and  Army  Life. 

vast  crowd  in  front;  his  expression  serious  to  the  point  of 
gravity;  not  a  scintillation  of  humor.  In  spite  of  the  cam 
paign  pictures,  I  was  prepared  to  expect  much.  Judge  Doug 
las  had  said  to  me  upon  his  return  to  Washington  after  the 
famous  campaign  of  1858  for  the  Illinois  senatorship,  from 
which  the  Little  Giant  had  come  off  victor:  'He  is  the  great 
est  debater  I  have  ever  met,  either  here  or  anywhere  else.' 

"To  me  the  address  meant  war.  As  the  crowd  upon  the 
portico  dispersed  back  into  the  Capitol,  I  found  myself  wedged 
in  between  John  Bell  of  Tennessee  and  Reverdy  Johnson  of 
Maryland.  Each  took  me  by  an  arm  and  we  sat  down  upon 
a  bench 'just  outside  the  rotunda.  They  were  very  optimistic. 
No,  there  would  be  no  war,  no  fight;  all  the  troubles  would 
be  tided  over;  the  Union  still  was  safe.  I  was  but  a  boy, 
just  one  and  twenty.  They  were  the  two  most  intellectual 
and  renowned  of  the  surviving  Whig  leaders  of  the  school  of 
Clay  and  Webster,  one  of  them  just  defeated  for  President 
in  the  preceding  election.  Their  talk  puzzled  me  greatly,  for 
to  mylmind  there  seemed  no  escape  from  the  armed  collision 
of  the  sections — secession  already  accomplished  and  a  Con 
federate  government  actually  established. 

"There  is  in  youth  a  prophetic  instinct  which  grows 
duller  with  advancing  years.  As  I  look  behind  me,  I  not 
only  bear  this  in  mind,  illustrated  by  the  converse  of  those 
two  veteran  statesmen  that  day  in  the  rotunda  of  the  Cap 
itol  at  Washington,  but  I  feel  it  and  realize  [it,  so  that  I  am 
much  less  confident,  with  a  lifetime  of  experience  to  guide 
me,  than 'I  was  when,  buoyed  by  the  ignorance  and  bra 
very,  but  also  the  inspiration  of  youth,  the  problems  ahead 
read  plain  and  clear  as  out  of  an  open  book . 

"The  duty  Lincoln  had  been  commissioned  to  do  was  to 
save  the  Union.  With  an  overwhelming  majority  of  the  peo 
ple  the  institution  of  African  slavery  was  not  an  issue.  In 
his  homely,  enlightened  way,  Lincoln  declared  that  if  he  could 
preserve  the  Union  with  slavery,  he  would  do  it,  or,  without 
slavery,  he  would  do  it,  or,  with  some  free  and  others  slaves, 


Recollections  of  Pioneer  and  Army  Life.  361 

he  would  do  that.  The  Proclamation  of  Emancipation  was  a 
war  measure  purely.  He  knew  he  had  no  constitutional  war 
rant,  and,  true  to  his  oath  of  office,  he  held  back  as  long  as 
he  could;  but  so  clear-sighted  was  his  sense  of  justice,  so 
empty  his  heart  of  rancor,  that  he  wished  and  sought  to  qual 
ify  the  rigor  of  the  act  by  some  measure  of  restitution,  and  so 
prepared  the  Joint  Resolution  to  be  passed  by  Congress  ap 
propriating  400  million  dollars  for  the  purpose,  which  still 
stands  in  his  own  handwriting. 

"  He  was  himself  a  Southern  man.  All  his  people  were 
Southerners.  'If  slavery  be  not  wrong,'  he  said,  'nothing  is 
wrong,'  echoing  in  this  the  opinion  of  most  of  the  Virginia 
gentlemen  of  the  Eighteenth  Century  and  voicing  the  senti 
ments  of  thousands  of  brave  men  who  wore  the  Confederate 
gray.  Not  less  than  the  North,  therefore,  has  the  South  reason 
to  canonize  Lincoln;  for  he  was  the  one  friend  we  had  at 
court — aside  from  Grant  and  Sherman — when  friends  were 
most  in  need. 

"If  Lincoln  had  lived,  there  would  have  been  no  era  of 
reconstruction,  with  its  mistaken  theories,  repressive  agencies 
and  oppressive  legislation.  If  Lincoln  had  lived,  there  would 
have  been  wanting  to  the  extremism  of  the  time  the  bloody 
cue  of  his  taking  off  to  mount  the  steeds  and  spur  the  flanks 
of  vengeance.  For  Lincoln  entertained,  with  respect  to  the 
rehabilitation  of  the  Union,  the  single  wish  that  the  Southern 
States— to  use  his  homely  phraseology — 'should  come  back 
home  and  behave  themselves';  and  if  he  had  lived,  he  would 
have  made  this  wish  effectual,  as  he  made  everything  effectual 
to  which  he  seriously  addressed  himself.  Poor,  insane  John 
Wilkes  Booth!  Was  he,  too,  an  instrument  in  the  hands  of 
God  to  put  a  still  deeper  damnation  upon  the  taking  off  of 
the  Confederacy  and  to  sink  the  Southern  people  yet  lower 
in  the  abyss  of  affliction  and  humiliation  the  living  Lincoln 
had  spared  us? 

"Tragedy  walks  hand  in  hand  with  History,  and  the  eyes 
of  Glorv  are  wet  with  tears — '  with  malice  toward  none,  with 


362  Recollections  of  Pioneer  and  Army  Life. 

charity  for  all' — since  Christ  said:  'Blessed  are  the  peace 
makers,  for  they  shall  be  called  the  children  of  God,'  has  the 
heart  of  man,  stirred  to  its  depths  by  human  exigency,  deliv 
ered  a  message  so  sublime?  Irresistibly  the  mind  recurs  to 
that  other  martyr  of  the  ages,  whom  not  alone  in  the  circum 
stances  of  obscure  birth  and  tragic  death,  but  in  those  of 
simple  living  and  childlike  faith,  Lincoln  so  closely  resembled. 
Yon  lowly  cabin  which  is  to  be  officially  dedicated  on  the 
morrow  may  well  be  likened  to  the  manger  of  Bethlehem, 
the  boy  that  went  thence  to  a  god-like  destiny,  to  the  Son 
of  God,  the  Father  Almighty  of  him  and  of  us  all.  For  whence 
his  prompting  except  from  God?" 

Mr.  Watterson  paid  a  tribute  to  President  Taft  and  con 
cluded  with  a  stirring  peroration,  in  which  he  said : 

'"Let  us  here  highly  resolve,'  the  words  still  ring  like 
a  trumpet-call  from  that  green-grown  hillside  of  Gettysburg 
dotted  with  the  graves  of  heroes,  'that  these  men  shall  not 
have  died  in  vain;  that  this  Nation,  under  God,  shall  have 
a  new  birth  of  freedom;  and  that  government  of  the  people, 
by  the  people  and  for  the  people  shall  not  perish  from  the 
earth.'  Repeat  we  the  declaration.  As  we  gather  about  this 
effigy  in  bronze  and  marble  in  this  the  Capitol  of  Kentucky, 
of  Kentucky,  the  most  world-famous  among  the  States  of 
America,  whose  birthright  carries  with  it  a  universal  and  un 
challenged  badge  of  honor;  of  Kentucky,  which  gave  to  the 
longest  and  bloodiest  of  modern  wars  both  its  chieftains,  Abra 
ham  Lincoln  and  Jefferson  Davis,  and  to  each  of  the  contend 
ing  armies  a  quota  of|fighting  men  larger  than  was  contrib 
uted  by  any  other  State  singly  to  either  Army;  of  that  Ken 
tucky  whose  Clay,  ^antedating  Lincoln  in  the  arts  of  concilia 
tion  and  eloquence,  tried  to  effect  and  did  for  a  time  effect  by 
compromise  what  Lincoln  could  only  compass  by  the  sword, 
and  whose  Crittenden  was  last  seriously  to  invoke  the  spirit 
of  fraternity  and  peace ;  of  our  own  Kentucky,  'dark  and  bloody 
ground'  of  the  savage,  beloved  home  of  all  that  we  hold  gener 
ous  and  valiant  in  man,  graceful  and  lovely  in  woman,  wherein 


Recollections  of  Pioneer  and  Army  Life.  363 

when  the  battle  was  ended  the  war  was  over,  and,  once  a 
Kentuckian  always  a  Kentuckian,  the  Federal  and  the  Con 
federate  were  brothers  again — let  us,  here,  whether  we  call 
ourselves  Democrats  or  Republicans,  renew  our  allegiance  to 
the  Constitution  of  the  Republic  and  the  perpetuity  of  the 
Union." 


*  A  V 


3-32) 


